Recent food shortages in Southern Africa, induced by rainfall variability but compounded by problems of governance and rising food prices, have resulted in massive relief efforts. A recent scientific innovation - supplying farmers with seasonal climate forecasts - has been touted as a way to...

Using microdata that serve as the foundation of the ifo Business Climate Index, Germany's leading business cycle indicator, I examine whether political uncertainty influences how firm owners perceive their present state and future development of business. I use state election months as...

Ohne eine aktive Zivilgesellschaft bleibt jede wirtschaftliche Entwicklung auf halbem Wege stecken. Entscheidend dabei ist es, Mechanismen des Dialogs zu entwickeln, damit der Staat die Anliegen von Bürgern, Konsumenten und Unternehmen versteht. Darin lauern aber auch die Gefahren, insbesondere...

Putting aside the euphoria of supporters of public-private dialogue (PPD) and the doom prophecies of its detractors, this analysis identifies the advantages that it can bring, while cautioning against the very real dangers it can present to fragile states and relatively recent democracies. The...