The purpose of this paper, which was written for a forthcoming book on the state-of-the-art in the social sciences, is to survey the influence which natural science concepts and models have recently had on theoretical developments in the social sciences, especially sociology. Such influences can...

The convergence of telecommunications and computer technology stimulated a global expansion of networks and services which was accompanied by a deregulation of this industry. In the liberalized worldmarket a great number of heterogeneous actors must coordinate the development and production of...

Different sub-disciplines of the social sciences analyse the evolution and diffusion of technical innovations from an institutional perspective. Important contributions are provided by socio-economic studies of national systems of innovation, by politico-economic research on the varieties of...

Rasche Innovationen in der Übertragungs-, Vermittlungs- und Endgerätetechnik haben in den 70er Jahren die erneute Expansion und weitere Differenzierung des Telekommunikationssystems eingeleitet. Das Telefon, Wachstumsträger der ersten Nachkriegsjahrzehnte, wurde zwar nicht marginalisiert,...

There are basically three stories about the globalisation-welfare state nexus. The first story argues that globalisation is the cause of the chronic crisis of the welfare state. As national economies open to the international market, governments are forced to adapt to the imperatives of global...

Warum macht die Harmonisierung der Unternehmens- und Kapitalertragsbesteuerung in der Europäischen Union kaum Fortschritte, obwohl sie im Binnenmarkt heftigem Steuerwettbewerb ausgesetzt ist, und warum ist die Umsatzbesteuerung weitgehend harmonisiert worden, obwohl sie gegen Steuerwettbewerb...