Boone (2008a) proposes a new competition measure based on Relative Profit Differences (RPD) with superior theoretical properties. However, the empirical applicability and robust-ness of the Boone-Indicator is still unknown. This paper aims to address that question. Using a rich, newly built,...

This paper addresses the relationship between the utilization of temporary agency workers by firms and their competitiveness measured by unit labor costs, using a rich, newly built, data set of German manufacturing enterprises. The analysis is conducted by applying different panel data models...

A growing proportion of employees are working under fixed-term contracts. This paper empirically analyzes whether this strategy actually improves firm productivity. To this end, a large dataset of German manufacturing firms and various panel data models are used in order to reveal the expected...

This paper addresses the relationship between the utilization of temporary agency workers by firms and their competitiveness measured by unit labor costs, using a rich, newly built, data set of German manufacturing enterprises. The analysis is conducted by applying different panel data models...

Summary Boone (2008a) proposes a new competition measure based on Relative Profit Differences (RPD) that, from its theoretical properties, proves to be more robust than the Lerner-Index. However, the proof of the empirical practicability and robustness of the Boone-Indicator is missing. To fill...

European and German economic policy are increasingly shifting their emphasis to small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2008, the European Union adopted the Small Business Act with the goal of creating better underlying conditions for smaller businesses. The German government is also...

Die Befristung von Arbeitsverträgen hat in den letzten Jahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen. In der Folge wird auch intensiv über die positiven wie negativen Effekte dieser Beschäftigungsform diskutiert. Die Debatte beschränkt sich jedoch im Wesentlichen auf Arbeitsmarktaspekte und die...

Atypische Beschäftigungsverhältnisse haben nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern europaweit zugenommen. Diese Entwicklung wird begleitet durch intensiver werdende Debatten über die Vor- und Nachteile derartiger Beschäftigungsverhältnisse, wobei häufig ein positiver Nutzen für die Unternehmen...

type="main" xml:id="irel12062-abs-0001" <p>This paper addresses the relationship between the utilization of temporary agency workers by firms and their competitiveness measured by unit labor costs, using a rich, newly built, dataset of German manufacturing enterprises. We conduct the analysis by...</p>