An important question in the social sciences is whether one’s place of birth predicts future prospects in life. Current research is predominantly focused on people that face relatively few opportunities in life and follows them throughout their lives and careers. We contribute to this research...

Place names, or toponyms, provide insight into the initial geographical characteristics of settlements. We present a unique dataset of 3,705 German toponyms that includes the date of the first historical record mentioning the settlement and the date it was granted city rights. We show that the...

The Berle-Means problem - information and incentive asymmetries disrupting relations between knowledgeable managers and remote investors - has remained a durable issue engaging researchers since the 1930s. However, the Berle-Means paradigm - widely dispersed, helpless investors facing strong,...

Abstract The 2008 Nobel Prize for economics was awarded to Paul Krugman for three papers—Krugman (1979, 1980, 1991). In this paper we illustrate that, indeed, these three papers are closely connected. We present a summary of the papers using a unified framework. Central in the discussion is...

Contributed to and edited by leading international academics, this book analyzes 'new economic geography' research, and examines the ensuing policy implications as well as core-periphery patterns, transportation costs and economic modelling

Using a detailed and large data set on cross-border merger and acquisitions we discuss the relationship between theory and observed empirical characteristics:(i) most FDI is in the form of M&As, (ii) firms engaged in M&As seem to be ‘market-seeking’, (iii) M&As come in waves (the most recent...