Am 27. April 2004 stellten die sechs Wirtschaftsforschungsinstitute in Berlin ihr Frühjahrsgutachten der Presse vor. Sie kamen zu der Ansicht, dass sich die Weltwirtschaft im Aufschwung befindet. Seit Mitte 2003 expandiert die Produktion in vielen Ländern ausgesprochen kräftig, und die...

It is widespread international practice that cargo liners meet at regular conferences to fix prices and quotas for individual routes. Presently, however, the respective European regulation granting liners an exemption from competition laws is under review. Liners claim that conferences are a...

In times of ever-rising health expenditures it is becoming more and more obvious that conventional models for funding health care are increasingly experiencing difficulties in meeting up this challenge. The concept of Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) represents an innovative and so far rarely...

1. Vorspann: Wie viele von Ihnen wissen werden, bin ich von Hause aus Soziologe. All meine akademischen Abschlüsse, Diplom, Promotion und Habilitation, habe ich in diesem Fach erworben. Und Sie werden auch wissen, dass ich in den vergangenen dreizehn Jahren hier in Freiburg den Lehrstuhl...

The majority of theoretical and empirical studies on the relationship between decentralization and corruption argues that the devolution of power might be a feasible instrument to keep corruption at bay. We argue that this result crucially depends on the possibility to monitor bureaucrat's...

Since the late 1990s, the music business has been experiencing a period of crisis. A new set of technologies digitization, data compression and the Internet - has forced significant changes on the industry. This paper analyzes the repercussions of this new technological constellation on the...

Wirtschaftlicher Austausch kann sich nur entwickeln, wenn er hinreichend gegen opportunistisches Verhalten abgesichert ist. In der globalisierten Wirtschaft des 21. Jahrhunderts werden grenzüberschreitende Geschäfte meist nicht durch staatliche Gerichte, sondern durch 'Private Ordering' und...

The finals of bicycle races have certain peculiarities compared to other sports. The leading group in a bicycle race rides comparatively slowly up to a few meters before the finishing line, until one of the competitors tries to shake off his opponents. Only then do all riders perform to the...

The subject of this paper is decision-making on the adoption, ratification and implementation of conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (lLO). The first part of the paper provides-a brief introduction to the ILO as an international organisation, its treaty base...