East German wages have been below the West German wage level since unification. Moreover, the East-West wage gap implied by the contractual wagesspecified in collective wage agreements is drifting ever further apart from the wagegap in terms of effective wages. This paper looks at the role of...

This study uses data from the National Child Development Studyto examine how experiences during childhood are linked to a widevariety of outcomes in adulthood. A cluster of childhoodexperiences (poverty, family disruption, and contact with thepolice) are given specific attention. One of the main...

This article investigates economic performance when enforceable propertyrights are missing and basic needs matter for consumption. It suggests anew view of the so-called voracity eect according to which windfall gains inproductivity induce behavior that leads to lower economic growth. Takinginto...

The distribution dynamics of incomes across Indian states are examined us-ing the entire income distribution rather than using standard regression ap-proaches.The period 1965 to 1997 exhibits twin-peaked dynamics: there aretwo income convergence clubs at 50% and 125% of the national...

This paper explores the rationale for area targeting and the growth ofnew area-based initiatives. The author examines the geographicalconcentration of deprivation, the extent, and whether there is apolarisation between areas. The evidence confirms that there is a clearrationale for area-based...

Welchen Einfluß haben Religionen auf die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung? oder: Macht Glauben reicher? Dieser Frage wurde in einer Veröffentlichung der Wirtschaftswoche (Wiwo, 29.5.1997, S. 34-39) nachgegangen, die anhand einer empirischen Erhebung Aussagen über die Religionszugehörigkeit von...

Economic transition lowered happiness on average, but did not affect allequally. This paper uses Hungarian survey data to study the impact ofreligion and economic transition on happiness. Religious involvementcontributes positively to individuals’ self-reported well-being.Controlling for...