In light of its importance of innovation on the political agenda it is necessary to provide guidance to decision makers how innovation can effectively be fostered in practice and to disentangle and evaluate the effects of the determinants suggested by the literature. This thesis focuses on the...

Using unique micro-data on German firms, this paper estimates the effect of restrictive bank lending on innovation. In the German three-pillar banking system, comprised of commercial banks, credit unions, and savings banks, firms were differently affected in their ability to raise external debt...

If one cluster increases local competitiveness, can politicians, by interlinking clusters, achieve an even better effect at the state level? To answer this question, the paper analyzes the “Cluster Initiative” introduced in 1999 by the Bavarian State Government. The purpose of the initiative...

If one cluster increases local competitiveness, can politicians, by interlinking clusters, achieve an even better effect at the state level? To answer this question, the paper analyzes the Cluster Initiative" introduced in 1999 by the Bavarian State Government. The purpose of the initiative was...

If one cluster increases local competitiveness, can politicians, by interlinking clusters, achieve an even better effect at the state level? To answer this question, the paper analyzes the Cluster Initiative introduced in 1999 by the Bavarian State Government. The purpose of the initiative was...

Using unique micro-data on German firms, this paper estimates the effect of restrictive bank lending on innovation. In the German three-pillar banking system, comprised of commercial banks, credit unions, and savings banks, firms were differently affected in their ability to raise external debt...

If one cluster increases local competitiveness, can politicians, by interlinking clusters, achieve an even better effect at the state level? To answer this question, the paper analyzes the "Cluster Initiativeʺ introduced in 1999 by the Bavarian State Government. The purpose of the initiative...