Assar Lindbeck has pointed to the problem that generous welfare state institutions may in the long-run undermine those social norms which limit the costs and incentives effects of the welfare state and thus guarantee its viability. This study is the first to assess the empirical validity of...

The establishment of a sovereign debt restructuring mechanism (SDRM) is one of the important issues in the academic debate on a viable constitution for the European Monetary Union (EMU). Yet the topic seems to be taboo in official reform contributions to the debate. Against this backdrop, the...

Deutschland auf dem langen Weg zu smarter Regulierung. Als Wirtschaftsstandort hat Deutschland in den letzten Jahren kontinuierlich an Attraktivität verloren. War das Land aus Unternehmenssicht seit jeher ein Standort mit hohen Steuern und Arbeitskosten, so hat sich der Kostennachteil bei den...

Countries are often slow to adjust their economic structures to new necessities although this reform reluctance is costly in terms of growth and employment. This paper analyses the relevant factors that block or foster economic reforms. Theoretical considerations show that there are at least...