In the field of economics only nonhigh-quality data is usually available, which can cause the widely used least square estimators (LSE) to be biased and inefficient. Therefore, the present study introduces the robust modified M-estimator (MME) proposed by Yohai et al. (1991). In the case of...

According to Baumol (1993) health care epitomises Baumol's cost disease. Sectors that suffer from Baumol's cost disease are characterised by slow productivity growth due to a high labour coefficient. As a result, unit costs of these sectors rise inexorably if the respective wages increase with...

This paper contributes to the debate about the impact of population ageing on health care expenditure. Some health economists claim that the commonly presumed impact of population ageing is a "red herring". Based on empirical studies these authors conclude that proximity to death and not age per...

This paper contributes to the debate about the impact of population ageing on health care expenditure. Some health economists claim that the commonly presumed impact of population ageing is a "red herring". Based on empirical studies these authors conclude that proximity to death and not age per...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the debate about the appropriateness of the Kaizuka rule, a Samuelson type of efficiency rule for public inputs, for the provision of firm-augmenting public inputs. Firm-augmenting public inputs are commonly included in public...

The Swiss debt brake is a fiscal rule at central government level which aims at stabilising debt. However, business cycle fluctuations are also accounted for. This paper discusses criticism of the debt brake that it cannot feasibly simultaneously achieve either anti-cyclical or sustainable...

This paper contributes to the debate about the appropriate efficiency rule for the provision of a firm-augmenting public input. This debate is caused by the dissatisfaction of Kaizuka-rule, i.e. a Samuelson-type condition for public inputs, in the long run. Therefore the applicability of...

In the light of tightening budget constraints caused by the recent financial and economic crisis and population ageing, it has become increasingly important to explore which portfolio of public expenditure generates economic growth. This article, therefore, estimates the growth effects of the...

Public or fiscal policy is sometimes concerned with the provision of some infrastructure. This paper deals with the specification of such infrastructures as public inputs. Among other things, and in contrast to relevant literature, it is shown that there is no identity between various public...