This paper analyzes the effect of standard deductions on itemized deductions. Using German income tax data, it shows that the distribution of itemized deductions above the level of the standard deduction is positively skewed, with the mode lying somewhat above the standard deduction. This...

The problem of selecting a prior distribution when it comes to Bayes estimation often constitutes a choice between conjugate or noninformative priors, since in both cases the resulting posterior Bayes estimator (PBE) can be solved analytically and is therefore easy to calculate. Nevertheless,...

Nonparametric prediction of time series is a viable alternative to parametric prediction, since parametric prediction relies on the correct specification of the process, its order and the distribution of the innovations. Often these are not known and have to be estimated from the data. Another...

Li, Fang & Tian (1994) assert that special quasi-linear means should be preferred to the simple arithmetic mean for robustness properties. The strategy that is used to show robustness is completely detached from the concepts wellknown from the theory of robust statistics. Robustness of...

J.M. Keynes (1911) shows how distributions look like for which the arithmetic, the geometric and the harmonic mean are most probable values. We propose a general class of distributions for which the quasi-arithmetic means are ML-estimators such that these distributions can be transformed into an...

Most of the bankruptcy prediction models developed so far have in common that they are based on quantitative data or more precisely financial ratios. However, useful information can be lost when disregarding soft information. In this work, we develop an automated content analysis technique to...

We analyze the evolution of the exporter wage premium (EWP) during the Great Recession and the resulting impact on wage inequality in Germany. Our results show that the EWP declined sharply between 2007 and 2008 and stagnated afterwards. This pattern is due to exporters starting to adjust their...

Comparing aggregate statistics and surveying selected empirical studies, this paper shows that the characteristics and results of labour markets in eastern and western Germany have become quite similar in some respects but still differ markedly in others even 25 years after unification. Whereas...

Comparing aggregate statistics and surveying selected empirical studies, this paper shows that the characteristics and results of labour markets in eastern and western Germany have become quite similar in some respects but still differ markedly in others even 25 years after unification. Whereas...

Timing of Disclosure for Financial Statements in Germany after the 2007 EHUG Act: The paper analyses the timing of disclosing financial statements for small and medium enterprises (SME) in Germany in 2007 and 2008. Comparisons of different regional areas and different company sizes are made and...