The Tradeoff Between Redistribution and Effort: Evidence from the Field and from the Lab
Claudia M. Buch, C. Engel
Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods Working Paper,
Nr. 10,
2012
Abstract
We use survey and experimental data to explore how effort choices and preferences for redistribution are linked. Under standard preferences, redistribution would reduce effort. This is different with social preferences. Using data from the World Value Survey, we find that respondents with stronger preferences for redistribution tend to have weaker incentives to engage in effort, but that the reverse does not hold true. Using a lab experiment, we show that redistribution choices even increase in imposed effort. Those with higher ability are willing to help the needy if earning income becomes more difficult for everybody.
Artikel Lesen
Im Fokus: Altersarmut und soziales Befinden in Ost- und Westdeutschland, 1995 und 2009
L. J. Zhu, Anja Weißenborn, Herbert S. Buscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
Nr. 7,
2011
Abstract
Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt, getrennt für West- und Ostdeutschland sowie für Deutschland insgesamt, Indikatoren zur Armutsmessung für die beiden Jahre 1995 und 2009 vor. Untersucht werden Rentnerhaushalte in beiden Teilen Deutschlands, wobei zwischen Frauen und Männern unterschieden wird. Neben Kennzahlen zur Einkommensarmut (Einkommensperzentile u. a.) werden die unterschiedlichen Einkommensquellen im Alter dargestellt; soziale Indikatoren geben darüber hinaus Auskunft über die aktuelle und zukünftig erwartete Lebenszufriedenheit.
Der Vergleich beider Jahre zeigt eine Zunahme der Altersarmut sowohl in West- als auch in Ostdeutschland. Betroffen hiervon sind Männer stärker als Frauen – bei den ostdeutschen Frauen hat sich die Altersarmut sogar leicht verringert. Neben der Sicht auf das Einkommen zeigen die sozialen Indikatoren, dass bei den armutsgefährdeten Personen in Ostdeutschland die Lebenszufriedenheit zwischen 1995 und 2009 abgenommen hat, bis zum Jahr 2014 jedoch auch mit einer leicht geringeren Unzufriedenheit gerechnet wird.
Artikel Lesen
Regulation and Taxation: A Complementarity
Benjamin Schoefer
Journal of Comparative Economics,
Nr. 4,
2010
Abstract
I show how quantity regulation can lower elasticities and thereby increase optimal tax rates. Such regulation imposes regulatory incentives for particular choice quantities. Their strength varies between zero (laissez faire) and infinite (command economy). In the latter case, regulation effectively eliminates any intensive behavioral responses to taxes; a previously distortionary tax becomes a lump sum. For intermediate regulation (where some deviation is feasible), intensive behavioral responses are still weaker than under zero regulation, and so quantity regulation reduces elasticities, thereby facilitating subsequent taxation. I apply this mechanism to labor supply and present correlational evidence for this complementarity: hours worked in high-regulation countries are compressed, and these countries tax labor at higher rates.
Artikel Lesen
Evaluating the German (New Keynesian) Phillips Curve
Rolf Scheufele
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 10,
2008
Abstract
This paper evaluates the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) and its hybrid
variant within a limited information framework for Germany. The main interest rests on the average frequency of price re-optimization of firms. We use the labor income share as the driving variable and consider a source of real rigidity by allowing for a fixed firm-specific capital stock. A GMM estimation strategy is employed as well as an identification robust method that is based upon the Anderson-Rubin statistic. We find out that the German Phillips Curve is purely forward looking. Moreover, our point estimates are consistent with the view that firms re-optimize prices every two to three quarters. While these estimates seem plausible from an economic point of view, the uncertainties around these estimates are very large and also consistent with perfect nominal price rigidity where firms never re-optimize prices. This analysis also offers some explanations why previous results for the German NKPC based on GMM differ considerably. First, standard GMM results are very sensitive to the way how orthogonality conditions are formulated. Additionally, model misspecifications may be left undetected by conventional J tests. Taken together, this analysis points out
the need for identification robust methods to get reliable estimates for the NKPC.
Artikel Lesen
Does Qualification Drive Innovation? A Microeconometric Analysis Using Linked-employer-employee Data
Bianca Brandenburg, Jutta Günther, Lutz Schneider
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 10,
2007
Abstract
Degree-level science and engineering skills as well as management and leadership skills are often referred to as a source of innovative activities within companies. Broken down by sectoral innovation patterns, this article examines the role of formal education and actual occupation for product innovation performance in manufacturing firms within a probit model. It uses unique micro data for Germany (LIAB) that contain detailed information about innovative activities and the qualification of employees. We find significant differences of the human capital endowment between sectors differentiated according to the Pavitt classification. Sectors with a high share of highly skilled employees engage in product innovation above average (specialized suppliers and science based industries). According to our hitherto estimation results, within these sectors the share of highly skilled employees does not, however, substantially increase the probability to be an innovative firm.
Artikel Lesen
Alterung und technologisches Innovationspotential : Eine Linked-Employer-Employee-Analyse
Lutz Schneider
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 2,
2007
Abstract
Wachstum in modernen Ökonomien ist wesentlich durch das Innovationsverhalten von Firmen bestimmt. Aus demographischer Sicht fragt sich, ob die absehbare Alterung der Arbeitskräfte das Innovationspotential der Ökonomien beeinflusst. Um diese Frage zu beantworten, untersucht der Beitrag auf Basis eines deutschen Linked-Employer- Employee-Datensatzes, ob eine ältere Belegschaft die Fähigkeit eines Betriebes, Produktinnovationen zu generieren, vermindert. Das Vorgehen basiert auf einem Ordered- Logit-Ansatz, wobei das Innovationspotential einer Firma auf deren Altersstruktur regressiert wird. In der Analyse zeigen sich signifikante Alterseffekte. Das geschätzte Alters-Innovations-Profil folgt einem umgekehrt u-förmigen Verlauf, es erreicht sein Maximum bei einem Alter von ca. 40 Jahren. Eine gesonderte Schätzung zeigt darüber hinaus, dass insbesondere das Alter der Ingenieure von Relevanz ist.
Artikel Lesen
Zu alt für einen Wechsel? Zum Zusammenhang von Alter, Lohndifferentialen und betrieblicher Mobilität
Lutz Schneider
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 1,
2007
Abstract
Die absehbare Alterung der Erwerbstätigen in Deutschland wird Konsequenzen für die Arbeitsmarktmobilität haben, ist doch bekannt, dass die Wechselbereitschaft mit zunehmendem Alter sinkt. Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert auf Basis der IAB-Beschäftigtenstichprobe (IABS) die Wirkung des Alters auf die betriebliche Mobilität. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Frage, wie sich die Einkommensdifferentiale eines betrieblichen Wechsels im Laufe des Erwerbslebens verändern. Es zeigt sich, dass Ältere im Falle eines Wechsels weniger stark als junge Beschäftigte von Einkommensgewinnen profitieren. Die Analyse macht jedoch ebenfalls deutlich, dass diese Einkommenskomponente den Mobilitätsvorsprung der Jüngeren nicht vollständig erklären kann.
Artikel Lesen
Uncovered Workers in Plants Covered by Collective Bargaining: Who Are They and How Do They Fare?
Boris Hirsch, Philipp Lentge, Claus Schnabel
Abstract
In Germany, employers used to pay union members and non-members in a plant the same union wage in order to prevent workers from joining unions. Using recent administrative data, we investigate which workers in firms covered by collective bargaining agreements still individually benefit from these union agreements, which workers are not covered anymore, and what this means for their wages. We show that about 9 percent of workers in plants with collective agreements do not enjoy individual coverage (and thus the union wage) anymore. Econometric analyses with unconditional quantile regressions and firm-fixed-effects estimations demonstrate that not being individually covered by a collective agreement has serious wage implications for most workers. Low-wage non-union workers and those at low hierarchy levels particularly suffer since employers abstain from extending union wages to them in order to pay lower wages. This jeopardizes unions' goal of protecting all disadvantaged workers.
Artikel Lesen
Worker Beliefs about Outside Options
Simon Jäger, Christopher Roth, Nina Roussille, Benjamin Schoefer
Quarterly Journal of Economics,
2099
Abstract
Standard labor market models assume that workers hold accurate beliefs about the external wage distribution, and hence their outside options with other employers. We test this assumption by comparing German workers’ beliefs about outside options with objective benchmarks. First, we find that workers wrongly anchor their beliefs about outside options on their current wage: workers that would experience a 10% wage change if switching to their outside option only expect a 1% change. Second, workers in low-paying firms underestimate wages elsewhere. Third, in response to information about the wages of similar workers, respondents correct their beliefs about their outside options and change their job search and wage negotiation intentions. Finally, we analyze the consequences of anchoring in a simple equilibrium model. In the model, anchored beliefs keep overly pessimistic workers stuck in low-wage jobs, which gives rise to monopsony power and labor market segmentation.
Artikel Lesen