Behaviour
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East Germany
The Nasty Gap 30 years after unification: Why East Germany is still 20% poorer than the...
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Kommentar: Alter Wein in neuen Schläuchen: Das Bürgergeld
Reint E. Gropp
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2022
Abstract
Am 1. Januar 2023 wird Hartz IV durch das Bürgergeld ersetzt. Der neue Name reduziert das Stigma, Grundsicherung zu erhalten. Aber nach wie vor fehlen Anreize, eine Arbeit aufzunehmen, weil Hinzuverdienst angerechnet wird. Auch das unwürdige Sanktionsregime bleibt im Kern bestehen. Ein bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen wäre die bessere Alternative.
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22.09.2016 • 39/2016
Strong Financial Literacy could Lead to More Self-employment
The probability that a person is self-employed also depends on how much financial literacy they have. A new study by the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) – Member of the Leibniz Association recently confirmed this correlation.
Walter Hyll
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Has Labor Income Become More Volatile? Evidence from International Industry-Level Data
Claudia M. Buch
German Economic Review,
No. 4,
2013
Abstract
Changes in labor market institutions and the increasing integration of the world economy may affect the volatility of capital and labor incomes. This article documents and analyzes changes in income volatility using data for 11 industrialized countries, 22 industries and 35 years (1970–2004). The article has four main findings. First, the unconditional volatility of labor income has declined in parallel to the decline in macroeconomic volatility. Second, the industry-specific, idiosyncratic component of labor income volatility has hardly changed. Third, cross-sectional heterogeneity is substantial. If anything, the labor incomes of high- and low-skilled workers have become more volatile relative to the volatility of capital incomes. Fourth, the volatility of labor income relative to the volatility of capital income declines in the labor share. Trade openness has no clear-cut impact.
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Das Problem der Finanzierung eines bedingungslosen Grundeinkommens
Ingmar Kumpmann
Franzmann, Manuel (Hrsg.), Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen als Antwort auf die Krise der Arbeitsgesellschaft,
2010
Abstract
For an investigation of the financial feasibility of an unconditional basic income it is important to differentiate analytically between the introduction of a basic income itself and accompanying reform proposals in order to avoid the confusion of financial effects of different possible projects. The crucial point for the question of financing is the effects an unconditional basic income has on market production. These effects are not sufficiently investigated yet. But in any case it is very hard to estimate them. Thus it is recommendable to introduce the basic income in several steps in order to gather experiences about the economic effects. In doing so one should not start with a low basic income for all people but rather with a sufficiently high basic income for certain target groups.
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The Great Risk Shift? Income Volatility in an International Perspective
Claudia M. Buch
CESifo Working Paper No. 2465,
2008
Abstract
Weakening bargaining power of unions and the increasing integration of the world economy may affect the volatility of capital and labor incomes. This paper documents and explains changes in income volatility. Using a theoretical framework which builds distribution risk into a real business cycle model, hypotheses on the determinants of the relative volatility of capital and labor are derived. The model is tested using industry-level data. The data cover 11 industrialized countries, 22 manufacturing and services industries, and a maximum of 35 years. The paper has four main findings. First, the unconditional volatility of labor and capital incomes has declined, reflecting the decline in macroeconomic volatility. Second, the idiosyncratic component of income volatility has hardly changed over time. Third, crosssectional heterogeneity in the evolution of relative income volatilities is substantial. If anything, the labor incomes of high- and low-skilled workers have become more volatile in relative terms. Fourth, income volatility is related to variables measuring the bargaining power of workers. Trade openness has no significant impact.
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Das bedingungslose Grundeinkommen und seine Finanzierung
Ingmar Kumpmann
cege-Report Februar 2008,
2008
Abstract
This is a reply to a contribution of Robert Schwager in the preceding cege-Report. The unconditional basic income is intended to reduce poverty. For its financing, some hitherto existing social benefits and tax privileges can be dropped. But the core of the financing problem is the effect of the basic income on the incentives in the economy.
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Armutsbekämpfung durch Einkommensumverteilung. Zu den Zielen und Finanzierungsproblemen eines Grundeinkommens
Ingmar Kumpmann
Berliner Debatte Initial Bd. 18 (2),
2007
Abstract
The basic income is introduced as a concept capable of improving inadequate poverty reduction schemes, especially by removing state controls of the ability and willingness to work. The welfare system will become more independent of wage-based social security contributions. The main challenge for the basic income model is financing. However, at the core of this challenge is not the question how large amounts of money can be raised, but rather the consequences for incentive mechanisms (and production). These are the limitations of the concept.
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