Das DIW Berlin prognostiziert für die deutsche Wirtschaft im Jahr 2010 ein Wachstum von 3,4 Prozent, im Jahr 2011 werden es 2,0 Prozent sein. Der Aufschwung nach der schwersten Rezession der Nachkriegszeit verläuft damit kräftig, auch wenn die hohen Wachstumsraten der ersten Jahreshälfte...

We explore the impact of large banks and of financial openness for aggregate growth. Large banks matter because of granular effects: if markets are very concentrated in terms of the size distribution of banks, idiosyncratic shocks at the bank-level do not cancel out in the aggregate but can...

Does the mere presence of big banks affect macroeconomic outcomes? In this paper, we develop a theory of granularity (Gabaix, 2011) for the banking sector, introducing Bertrand competition and heterogeneous banks charging variable markups. Using this framework, we show conditions under which...

Does the mere presence of big banks affect macroeconomic outcomes? In this paper, we develop a theory of granularity (Gabaix, 2011) for the banking sector, introducing Bertrand competition and heterogeneous banks charging variable markups. Using this framework, we show conditions under which...

We use a life-cycle model of consumption and portfolio choice to study the effects of social security on the investment decisions of households for the European case. Our model is mainly based on the one developed by Cocco, Gomes, and Maenhout (2005). We extend it by unemployment risk using...

We use a life-cycle model of consumption and portfolio choice to study the effects of social security on the investment decisions of households for the European case. Our model is mainly based on the one developed by Cocco, Gomes, and Maenhout (2005). We extend it by unemployment risk using...

In 2014, the German economy is expected to grow by 1.8 %. Next year, GDP will increase by 2.1 %. The output gap will decline significantly this year, but will only be fully closed in the coming year. Inflation will remain low in this environment. The upward momentum of the global economy...

The German economy is bound to accelerate in the quarters ahead, following the slump at the end of last year. Year-on-year, real gross domestic product will increase by 0.7 percent, matching last year's rise. As production will gain momentum in the course of 2013, the growth rate for 2014 will...

Despite the most recent period of calm on the financial markets, the long-term resilience of the European financial system is not yet assured, even several years after the financial crisis began. However, the stability of the financial system plays a crucial role for real economic development...

The German economy has recently lost momentum but is anticipated to accelerate markedly in the course of 2013. On annual average, real GDP will increase by 0.9 percent; the corresponding figure for 2012 is expected to be 0.8 percent. During the course of 2013, however, expansion will accelerate...