Model-based small area predictors are derived under the assumption that data files are complete. In application to real data, files may contain missing values. We introduce a variant of the bivariate Fay-Herriot model that takes into account for missing values in one component of the target...

Previous international research has shown that women are more risk averse than men. This gives rise to the question whether the gender gap in risk attitudes is shaped by the social environment. We address this question by examining risk attitudes among East and West Germans. Originated from...

From a theoretical viewpoint, there can be market failures resulting in an underprovision of occupational health and safety. Works councils may help mitigate these failures. Using establishment data from Germany, our empirical analysis confirms that the incidence of a works council is...

Our paper uses micro price data collected from Germany’s Consumer Price Index to compile a highly disaggregated regional price index for the 402 counties and cities of Germany. We introduce a multi-stage version of the weighted Country-Product- Dummy method. The unique quality of our price...

The joint usage of unit- and area-level data for model-based small area estimation is investigated. The combination of levels within a single model encloses a variety of methodological problems. Firstly, it implies a critical decrease in degrees of freedom due to more model parameters that need...

An approach to model-based small area estimation under covariate measurement errors is presented. Using a min-max approach, we proof that regularized regression coefficient estimation is equivalent to robust optimization under additive noise. Applying this equivalence, the Fay-Herriot model is...

Microsimulations usually contain various transition processes such as births and deaths, relocations, and change in household characteristics. The estimation, organisation, and implementation of these processes can have a substantial impact on the simulation outcomes. We propose to evaluate a...

Many variables that social and economic researchers seek to analyze through regression analysis violate normality assumptions. A standard remedy in that case is the logarithmic transformation. However, taking logarithms is not always sufficient to restablish model assumptions. A more general...

Many variables that social and economic researchers seek to analyze through regression analysis violate normality assumptions. A standard remedy in that case is the logarithmic transformation. However, taking logarithms is not always sufficient to restablish model assumptions. A more general...

This paper analyzes the interaction of direct and indirect risk selection in health insurance markets. It is shown that direct risk selection - using measures unrelated to the benefit package like selective advertising or 'losing' applications of high risk individuals - nevertheless has an...