This paper evaluates the potential value of a weather index insurance for the agriculture sector in an high income country (Germany). In our theoretical analysis we model an index insurance, a loss-based insurance market as well as a combination of both kinds of insurance and compare the...

In this paper, I analyze the effectiveness of different capital regulations in mitigating the effects of moral hazard that exists only for systemically important banks. Leverage restrictions have the potential to reduce the fraction of banks that are systemically important but do not mitigate...

This paper investigates contagion effects. In a model with highly and lowly informed investors we show that a currency crisis in one country can trigger a crisis in another country. Portfolio losses of the highly informed investors in one country will force them to withdraw capital from the...

This paper investigates contagion effects. In a model with highly and lowly informed investors we show that a currency crisis in one country can trigger a crisis in another country. Portfolio losses of the highly informed investors in one country will force them to withdraw capital from the...

Empirical evidence suggests that many mergers do not increase profits of the participating firms and decrease welfare. Due to the globalization of markets we should take an international view on mergers and their welfare effects. This paper develops a Bertrand-model of an international...

This paper examines the impact of implicit guarantees and capital regulations on the behavior of a bank and on the expected losses for its depositors. I show that implicit guarantees increase the incentives of the bank to enhance leverage and/or risk taking and that this leads to higher expected...

We develop a theoretical model of mortgage loss rates that evaluates their main underlying risk factors. Following the model, loss rates are positively influenced by the house price level, the loan-to-value of mortgages, interest rates, and the unemployment rate. They are negatively influenced...

Besteht in Deutschland eine Kreditklemme bzw. ein Credit Crunch? Um das Ausmaß dieses Problems für die deutsche Wirtschaft zu untersuchen, hat das ifo Ins-titut im Rahmen seiner monatlichen Konjunkturtestumfrage im Juni und August dieses Jahres die Teilnehmer nach der Bereitschaft der Banken,...

Das ifo Institut bietet über seinen Konjunkturtest auch einen Beschäftigungsindikator, welcher für die Bereiche verarbeitendes Gewerbe, Bau, Handel und gewerbliche Wirtschaft jeweils eine sehr hohe Kreuzkorrelation mit der entsprechenden Beschäftigungsentwicklung aufweist. Der Indikator ist...

Nachdem das ifo Institut bereits im Juni und August letzten Jahres die Teilnehmer des Konjunkturtests zur Bereitschaft der Banken, Kredite zu vergeben, befragt hatte, wurde diese Sonderfrage erneut im März dieses Jahres gestellt. Wie die neuen Umfrageergebnisse zeigen, scheinen die Banken bei...