Summary A common problem of welfare states consists of a high unemployment risk for low-skilled workers. This is often attributed to a lack of jobs for the low-skilled, but it may as well be caused by a lack of incentives to work. Low-skilled workers are easily substitutable and therefore have...

Summary Ever since the very beginning of the Journal of Economics and Statistics population economics has featured prominently in the Journal. Fertility naturally plays an important role in population economics. However, the level of German fertility has decreased significantly from the 1900s....

Abstract In his contribution Carsten Hefeker points out that most of the official arguments concerning the necessity of the Stability and Growth Pact are not convincing. Nevertheless, a mechanism that credibly avoids excessive debts and deficits is needed in most member states. It would be more...