The characteristics book-to-market equity ratio, size and momentum are highly correlated with the average returns of common stocks. Fama and French (J Financ Econ 33(1):3-56, 1993), (J Finance 50(1):131-155, 1995) and (J Finance 51(1):55-84, 1996) argue (for size and the book-to-market equity...

We estimate and test several default risk models using new and unique data on corporate defaults in the German stock market. While defaults were extremely rare events in the 1990s, they have been a characteristic feature of the German stock market since the early 2000s. We apply the structural...

In this study, conducted on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of the German FinTech industry. We quantify the market volume of the industry between 2007 and 2015. On the basis of this data, we also predict the future development of eight...

The German Bundestag has adopted the Small Investor Protection Act on 23 April 2015, which will enter into force in the coming weeks. By this Act the German legislator establishes for the first time – among other things – a regulation of the German crowdfunding market. This article describes...

The digitalization of financial services opened a window for new players in the financial industry. These start-ups take on tasks and functions previously reserved for banks, such as lending, payments, or investment. In this article, we trace the transformation of the industry after...

This EU supported Specific Targeted Research Project (STREP) had been conducted by a European Consortium composed of eight research institutions. Ifo's part within this larger programme was (a) to analyse the fiscal effects of privatization and (b) to assess the valuation of privatization...