The question whether ageing leads to more or less inequality is not easily answered. Different, in part opposed, effects can be identified that are sensible to reactions of private households, the implementation of political measures etc. To get a better idea of the effect of demographic change...

Private households constitute one of the main economic sectors. The underlying house-hold structure determines income and consumption aggregates. For example, changes in the population composition induced by demographic change or shifts in the income structure through redistributional policy...

The concept of participation can be used to evaluate and assess socioeconomic changes. Most analysis that apply participation as reference point for socioeconomic development concentrate on the individual level. We try to give evidence for reasons and explanations for accomplished or changing...

Studies on foreign trade and its economic impact are numerous. Ricardo's thesis that the international division of labour is welfare-enhancing, even if a country has comparative disadvantages in the production of all goods, became a basic assumption of economic thought. On this basis, free trade...