Does it make us unhappier when we compare our consumptionwith that of the Joneses or our own past achievements? This paper tries ananswer by bringing together two disparate literatures: the macro (growth)theory on habit formation and the applied literature related to the Easterlinparadox. Using...

We show that tests for a break in the persistence of a time series in the classicalI(0) - I(1) framework have serious size distortions when the actual data generatingprocess exhibits long-range dependencies. We prove that the limiting distributionof a CUSUM of squares based test depends on the...

Numerous (high-tax) countries presume that multinational ¯rms use their transfer-pricing policies to shift pro¯ts into countries with lower tax rates. To avoid thecorresponding loss in tax revenues, tax authorities develop constantly tighteningrules to curb transfer-price distortions. A®ected...

How is it possible that exchange rates move in the long run towards fundamentals, whileprofessionals form consistently irrational exchange rate expectations? We look at this puzzle from adifferent perspective by analyzing investor sentiment in the US-dollar market. First, long-horizonregressions...

Die FIFA Fußball-WM 2006 hat in Deutschland einen Boom bei Stadioninvestitionenausgelöst. Eine zweite Welle ist derzeit bei mittelgroßen Projekten zu beobachten, mit denenkleinere Bundesligisten und Zweitligisten den Anschluss an die Top-Klubs zu halten versuchen.[...]

This research enters new ground by presenting comparative survey evidence on assetmanagers' views and behavior in the United States, Germany, Japan and Thailand.Relying on Hofstede's four cultural dimensions, we find that cultural differencesare most helpful in understanding country differences...

Financial liberalisation has often failed in the past due to underestimated problems ofstructural change. We analyse such changes in lending behaviour of Thai commercialbanks during a liberalisation phase by way of unique micro data. Liberalisationhas expected positive effects, such as lowering...

Effective from 2008, Germany´s top marginal income tax rate rises from 42 to 45 per cent. However, sole proprietorships and partnerships can opt for a preferential tax rate of 28.25 per cent for retained profits are taxed again upon distribution (§ 34a EStG-E). If they do so, profits are taxed...

Personal ist ein strategischer Erfolgsfaktor für die Arbeit von Museen.Die sich verschärfenden Umfeld- und Marktbedingungen, denen sich der kulturelle Sektorgegenübersieht, verleihen der Notwendigkeit für ein Personalmanagement zusätzlich Nachdruck.Das Themenfeld Museum und Personal wurde...

This paper offers new insights into the Italian mutual fund industry. Surveying Italian professionals, we do notonly reveal typical gender differences but also detect divergence to their German counterparts. While disclosingItalian professionals’ overly positive self-assessment in general, we...