Recently, investments in new generation networks in Germany have been curtailed, since potential investors required this new network be unregulated. To develop a regulator's strategy that allows investments to occur but prevents monopolistic prices, we model an investor's decision problem under...

Abstract Europe’s current energy strategy focuses on a functioning internal energy market, security of supply, energy efficiency and the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies. In this article, we discuss selected European energy policy actions from an economic...

Summary After the deregulation of the German electricity markets, network access charges are based on contractual arrangements between energy producers and industrial consumers. As the electricity networks are incontestable natural monopolies, the operators are able to set (monopolistic) charges...

Summary The liberalization of the German Markets for postal services which have been realized with the beginning of 2008 was politically combined with the introduction of minimum wage legislation. This minimum wage increases the labour costs of the competitors without reaching the cost level of...

Abstract In Germany, the level of court fees is not cost-covering. Analyzing several welfare arguments to justify not cost-covering fees, only one aspect is conclusive. The benefit of judgments are not only private but also public (positive externality of litigation). It is due to the supreme...

Abstract Smartphone-Apps and web-based tools improve the transparency of taxi rides with regard to prices and routing. These technical innovations reduce asymmetric information. Hence, obligatory knowledge tests of streets and important places are no longer necessary. However, the provision of...