Intangible Assets and Imperfections in Product and Labor Markets
Eric Bartelsman, Sabien Dobbelaere, Alessandro Zona Mattioli
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 5,
2026
Abstract
This paper develops a micro-founded framework linking price-cost and wage markups to intangible assets. Intangible assets, once created, are a source of firm rents. Owing to limits to enforceable ownership and the non-rival nature of knowledge, these rents can be both retained by the origin firm and transferred to a competitor through poaching of workers. Search and matching frictions affect labor mobility and result in bargaining over rents between the firm and the worker. This environment generates hold-up in intangible asset creation and motivates rent sharing. Under non-compete agreements, poached workers face start delays that weaken outside options. Using microdata from the Netherlands, we document higher price-cost and wage markups in more intangible-intensive firms and lower wages for workers with non-compete agreements, consistent with the model.
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Strukturwandel in der brandenburgischen Lausitz: Mit Wissenschaft zu neuer Blüte
Gunther Markwardt, Mirko Titze, Stefan Zundel
Wirtschaftsdienst,
Vol. 105 (6),
2025
Abstract
In einer deutschen Kohleausstiegsregion, der brandenburgischen Lausitz, findet ein politisches Experiment statt: die strategische Entwicklung einer kleinen, ländlichen Randregion durch außergewöhnlich hohe Investitionen in Forschung und Entwicklung sowie Wissenschaft. Für die brandenburgische Lausitz sind bis 2038 rund 6 Mrd. Euro an öffentlichen Mitteln für Investitionen in Hochschulen, außeruniversitäre Forschungseinrichtungen und einen Wissenschaftspark bewilligt worden. Es wird sich zeigen, ob die Lausitz eine Blaupause für den wissenschaftsgetriebenen Strukturwandel wird.
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Media Response
Media Response May 2026 Reint Gropp: Deutsche Regierung unter Reformdruck in: Der Standard, 19.05.2026 Oliver Holtemöller: Zeit für den Rotstift Die Republik der Steuerprivilegien…
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IWH Alumni The IWH maintains contact with its former employees worldwide. We involve our alumni in our work and keep them informed, for example, with a newsletter. We also plan…
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Media Response Archive 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 December 2021 IWH: Ausblick auf Wirtschaftsjahr 2022 in Sachsen mit Bezug auf IWH-Prognose zu Ostdeutschland: "Warum Sachsens…
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DPE Courses Archive
DPE Course Programme Archive 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2026 IWH-DPE Foundation Course, CGDE First-year Course Microeconomics II…
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Academic conference on the 30th anniversary of the single market
Academic conference on the 30th anniversary of the single market 1st session Chair: Josefina Monteagudo (European Commission) The “completeness” of the EU single market in…
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Vergebene Aufträge
Vergebene Aufträge Das IWH veröffentlicht an dieser Stelle eine Liste der nach beschränkten Ausschreibungen und freihändigen Vergaben vergebenen Aufträge/Verhandlungsvergaben nach…
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Cultural Norms and Corporate Fraud: Evidence from the Volkswagen Scandal
Iftekhar Hasan, Felix Noth, Lena Tonzer
Journal of Corporate Finance,
Vol. 82 (October),
2023
Abstract
We examine a corporate governance role of local culture via its impact on consumer behavior following corporate scandals. Our proxy for culture is the presence of local Protestantism. Exploiting the unexpected nature of the Volkswagen (VW) diesel scandal in September 2015, we show that new registrations of VW cars decline significantly in German counties with a Protestant majority following the VW scandal. Further survey evidence shows that, compared to Catholics, Protestants respond significantly more negatively to fraud but not to environmental issues. Our findings suggest that the enforcement culture in Protestantism facilitates penalizing corporate fraud.
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DPE Course Programme Archive
DPE Course Programme Archive 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2023 Microeconomics several lecturers winter term 2023/2024 (IWH) Econometrics several…
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