Political Polarization and Finance
Elisabeth Kempf, Margarita Tsoutsoura
Annual Review of Financial Economics,
November
2024
Abstract
We review an empirical literature that studies how political polarization affects financial decisions. We first discuss the degree of partisan segregation in finance and corporate America, the mechanisms through which partisanship may influence financial decisions, and the available data sources used to infer individuals’ partisan leanings. We then describe and discuss the empirical evidence. Our review suggests an economically large and often growing partisan gap in the financial decisions of households, corporate executives, and financial intermediaries. Partisan alignment between individuals explains team and financial relationship formation, with initial evidence suggesting that high levels of partisan homogeneity may be associated with economic costs. We conclude by proposing several promising directions for future research.
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26.09.2024 • 27/2024
Services stabilise the East German economy – Implications of the Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2024 and of Länder data from recent publications of the Statistical Offices
In 2024, the East German economy is expected to grow by 0.2%, while it will decline by 0.1% in Germany as a whole. The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) is forecasting an East German growth rate of 0.7% in 2025, and a rate of 1.2% in 2026. According to the IWH forecast, the unemployment rate in eastern Germany is likely to be 7.5% in 2024 as well as 2025 and 7.2% in 2026.
Oliver Holtemöller
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26.09.2024 • 26/2024
Joint Economic Forecast 2/2024: German economy in transition ‒ weak momentum, low potential growth
The Joint Economic Forecast Project Group forecasts a 0.1% decline in Germany's gross domestic product in 2024. Looking further ahead, the institutes expect a weak recovery with growth of 0.8% (2025) and 1.3% (2026). Compared to the spring forecast, this represents a down-ward revision of 0.2 (2024) and 0.6 (2025) percentage points. “In addition to the economic downturn, the German economy is also being weighed down by structural change,” says Dr Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, head of Forecasting and Economic Policy at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). “Decarbonisation, digitalisation, and demographic change – alongside stronger competition with companies from China – have triggered structural adjustment processes that are dampening the long-term growth prospects of the German economy.”
Oliver Holtemöller
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05.09.2024 • 24/2024
Moderate economic growth in the world – German economy continues to stagnate
Production in Germany has been stagnating for two years and is roughly the same level as shortly before the outbreak of the pandemic. Investment of firms is particularly weak. An important reason for fewer investments is the sluggish export business. Private households are also holding back on consumption, mainly due to concerns about the longer-term economic outlook. According to the autumn forecast of the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), gross domestic product in Germany is likely to stagnate in 2024 and to increase by 1.0% in 2025 as capacity utilisation normalises. In June, the IWH forecast had still assumed a growth of 0.3% in 2024 and of 1.5% in 2025. In East Germany, gross domestic product will increase by 0.3% this year and by 0.9% in 2025.
Oliver Holtemöller
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Do Markets Value Manager-investor Interaction Quality? Evidence from IPO Returns
Shibo Bian, Iftekhar Hasan, Xunxiao Wang, Zhipeng Yan
Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting,
August
2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of manager-investor interaction quality on stock returns by utilizing an online IPO roadshow dataset and leveraging a word-embedding model. We find that such interactions are positively valued, as reflected in initial returns. The effect is particularly pronounced for firms characterized by higher levels of information asymmetry, greater investor attention, increased question uncertainty, or discussions on topics not covered in prospectus. Additionally, our research reveals that effective management communication leads to increased first-day turnover rates and thus higher returns. These heightened returns persist up to 180 days following the IPO, without displaying a significant long-term reversal associated with interaction quality. These findings underscore the meaningful impact of the quality of manager-investor interactions on firm valuation.
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The Mannheim Enterprise Panel linked to the Establishment History Panel of the IAB 2010–2020 (MUP-BHP 1020)
André Diegmann, Sandra Gottschalk, Mirja Hälbig, Alexandra Schmucker, Stefanie Wolter
FDZ Datenreport,
2024
Abstract
The Mannheim Enterprise Panel linked to the Establishment History Panel (MUP-BHP) is made up of cross-sectional data sets from 2010 onwards. Each cross-section includes all limited liability companies (GmbH) from the Mannheim Company Panel (MUP) and their permanent establishments throughout Germany that are recorded in the Establishment History Panel (BHP) (BeH) as of 31.12. This linking of establishments and businesses is based on a record linkage of the address data of the MUP held by the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research and the business address data at the IAB. The individual cross-sectional data sets contain information on the establishments and companies as well as an additional file on shareholders. The data sets can be linked to form a panel. This data report describes the Mannheim Enterprise Panel linked to the Establishment History Panel (MUP-BHP) 2010-2020.
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24.06.2024 • 21/2024
Ausgebildet in Halle für Top-Arbeitgeber weltweit
Das Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH) hat heute bekanntgegeben, dass drei seiner bisherigen Doktoranden bedeutende Positionen in angesehenen internationalen Forschungseinrichtungen erlangt haben.
Michael Koetter
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Sechs Punkte für eine effiziente grüne Transformation
Reint E. Gropp, Oliver Holtemöller
IWH Policy Notes,
No. 2,
2024
Abstract
Die grüne Transformation, verstanden als ein Prozess, Energie zunehmend treibhausgasneutral zu erzeugen, kann mit marktwirtschaftlichen Instrumenten und dafür erforderlichen Rahmenbedingungen kostengünstiger umgesetzt werden als mit staatlicher Steuerung des Energieverbrauchs und der Energieerzeugung. Kosteneffizienz ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Bereitschaft und Fähigkeit der Bevölkerung, die Lasten der Transformation zu tragen, und für eine gerechte Verteilung der Lasten.
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Media Response
Media Response June 2025 Steffen Müller: Weniger neue Insolvenzen angemeldet in: Handelsblatt.com, 13.06.2025 Steffen Müller: Weniger neue Insolvenzen angemeldet in:…
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13.06.2024 • 17/2024
German economy still on the defensive – but first signs of an end to the downturn
In the first half of 2024, signs of an economic recovery are increasing. Production, however, is likely to expand only modestly during summer. From the autumn, the recovery is likely to pick up speed with higher real incomes and a modest increase in exports. In its summer forecast, the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) expects gross domestic product to expand by 0.3% in 2024 and by 1.5% in 2025 (East Germany: 0.6% and 1.4%). In March, the IWH forecast had assumed a growth of 0.2% in 2024 and of 1.5% in 2025.
Oliver Holtemöller
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