Recent theories of the Long Divergence between Middle Eastern and Western European economies focus on Middle Eastern (over-)reliance on religious legitimacy, use of slave soldiers, and persistence of restrictive proscriptions of religious (Islamic) law. These theories take as exogenous the...

America's "infatuation with homeownership" has been identified as one cause of the latest financial crisis. Based on codings of 1,809 party manifestos in 19 OECD countries since 1945, this paper addresses the question of where the political ideal to democratize homeownership came from. While...

Do parties adapt their programmatic strategies in times of heightened economic globalization? Are these changes captured by right-left positional changes or do parties go beyond policy shifts and enact more comprehensive programmatic overhauls? Furthermore, are such changes linked to traditional...

This study analyzes results from an original survey of members of the French and German parliaments (Assemblée Nationale, Sénat and Bundestag) on economic policies and institutions of the Eurozone. We find that French politicians are significantly more supportive of Eurobonds, a European...

We analyze data from an author‐conducted survey of members of the French and German parliaments on European Monetary Union reform preferences. We consider three potential drivers of preferences: nationality, ideology, and personal characteristics. For European Monetary Union policies like...

This paper analyses the health-improving effects of introducing four different constitutional social and environmental human rights (health, free education, adequate living (or welfare), and environment) and the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR) into national constitution and...

This paper assesses the limitations that the Stability and Growth Pact has imposed on Italy's economic recovery and its debt reduction. By evaluating Germany's fiscal policy since 1997, the paper offers recommendations for the Italian authorities. Measures put forward by European Union...

Preface -- Overview of comparative economics -- How do we compare economies? -- The theory and practice of market capitalism -- The theory and history of marxism and socialism -- Islamic economics and the economics of other religions varieties of advanced market capitalism -- The United States...

[Einleitung ...] In diesem Diskussionspapier soll der Emissionshandel als marktwirtschaftliches Instrument zur Begrenzung von Treibhausgasemissionen näher beleuchtet und die Unterschiede der bereits implementierten Systeme vorgestellt werden. Dazu wird in Kapitel 2 zunächst die grundlegende...

The dissertation deals with social inequalitiy between insiders and outsiders in Europe and its relation to employment protection legislation. In this regard, it focuses particularly on differences in unemployment. The dissertation is cumulative and captures four different empirical studies each...