Durch die Versteigerung der UMTS-Lizenzen erhielt die Bundeskasse unerwartete Mehreinnahmen von knapp 100 Mrd. DM. Diese Erlöse sollen als Schuldentilgung verwendet, die dadurch eingesparten Zinszahlungen des Bundes in Höhe von jährlich 5 Mrd. DM in Forschung, Bildung, Verkehr und...

The paper by Christian Kastrop describes the German federal system with a view to drawing some lessons for the European Union. The German system is reckoned to be very good at promoting cooperation and integration, but it has been showing growing problems in terms of efficiency and transparency....

Höppner and Kastrop examine the role of fiscal institutions and budgetary procedures in Germany with respect to the objective of safeguarding sound public finances in the long-run. The paper analyses the main factors underlying debt developments in Germany in recent decades. It also examines...