What factors shape environmental policies across Europe? In order to answer this question most economists would probably adopt a Public Choice approach. This approach has explained some aspects of environmental policies that exist in a similar fashion across Europe convincingly. But why do many...

The authors assess the performance of the Structural Funds’ implementation system in six Member States of the European Union. Considering the strengths and weaknesses, they develop a reform model for the implementation of European structural policy after 1999. The strengths of the existing...

Am 1.1.2005 ging das 'Vierte Gesetz für moderne Dienstleistungen am Arbeitsmarkt' (Hartz IV) in zwei Modellvarianten an den Start: Arbeitsgemeinschaften (ARGEn) mit gesplitteter Trägerschaft zwischen Kommunen und Bundesagentur für Arbeit und 'Optionsmodell' mit kommunaler Alleinträgerschaft....

In dieser Expertise wird der Stand der internationalen und deutschen Forschung zu den Wirkungen von Mindestlöhnen zusammengefasst. Die neuere Forschung zeigt übereinstimmend, dass sich keine negativen Beschäftigungswirkungen feststellen lassen. Diese Ergebnisse lassen sich auch auf...

In 2005, an EU-wide emissions trading scheme covering major CO2 producing sites shall come into power. The key objective of the trading scheme is to promote cost-efficiency of carbon reduction within the EU. We identify policy-relevant tradeoffs between overall efficiency, compensation and...

Diese Studie untersucht die Umsetzung des am 1. August 2006 eingeführten Gründungszuschusses nach § 57 und § 58 SGB III auf Basis von qualitativen Interviews, Interaktionsbeobachtungen und Dokumentenanalysen. Das qualitative Forschungsdesign erlaubt es zu eruieren, auf welche Weise die...

The paper identifies key labor market and institutional differences between developed and developing countries, analyzes how these differences affect the working of the standard, OECD-style unemployment insurance (UI) program, and derives a desirable design of unemployment benefit program in...

The paper analyzes key labor market and institutional features of developing countries that affect functioning of unemployment insurance: a large informal sector, weak administrative capacity, and large political risk. It argues that these countries should tailor an OECD-style unemployment...

This study - commissioned by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – evaluates the direct effects (i.e. the direct and induced outputs) of budget support in Zambia. It forms part of a joint international evaluation of budget support in Zambia. The report focuses on...