Contractibility,Strategy, and Network Dynamics: From Franchising to Licensing

The article examines the network dynamics from franchising to licensing due to the increase of contractibility of the franchiser's system-specific assets as determinant of the allocation of decision rights between the network partners. Based on the property rights approach, residual decision rights must be allocated according to the distribution of intangible knowledge assets between the franchiser and franchisee. Our analysis derives the following hypothesis: The more contractible the franchiser's system-specific assets, the higher is the tendency from franchising toward licensing. In addition, we investigate the impact of strategy change on the standardization (contractibility) of system-specific assets and the network governance. We argue that a change of strategy may increase the contractibility of system-specific know-how and consequently the tendency toward licensing. This study presents empirical evidence from company Getifix on the network dynamics from franchising to licensing.     

Spatial modelling of claim frequency and claim size in non-life insurance

In this paper, models for claim frequency and average claim size in non-life insurance are considered. Both covariates and spatial random effects are included allowing the modelling of a spatial dependency pattern. We assume a Poisson model for the number of claims, while claim size is modelled using a Gamma distribution. However, in contrast to the usual compound Poisson model, we allow for dependencies between claim size and claim frequency. A fully Bayesian approach is followed, parameters are estimated using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The issue of model comparison is thoroughly addressed. Besides the deviance information criterion and the predictive model choice criterion, we suggest the use of proper scoring rules based on the posterior predictive distribution for comparing models. We give an application to a comprehensive data set from a German car insurance company. The inclusion of spatial effects significantly improves the models for both claim frequency and claim size, and also leads to more accurate predictions of the total claim sizes. Further, we detect significant dependencies between the number of claims and claim size. Both spatial and number of claims effects are interpreted and quantified from an actuarial point of view.     

Inflation und Schuldenabbau

The European Central Bank (ECB) recently announced its willingness to do whatever is needed to save the euro. This has raised the question whether such a role of the ECB must lead to higher rates of infl ation. Under current recessive macroeconomic conditions in the eurozone, the ECB’s expansionary monetary policy will not lead to higher infl ation. On the contrary, there is a serious danger of defl ation. Higher infl ation would likely occur only if a permanent stabilisation function were assigned to the ECB. Yet historical examples show that mistakes can be made. During the stagnation in Japan, US economists heavily criticised the Bank of Japan’s timid monetary policy response. But in some sense, current Fed policy seems to be a direct copy of that strategy, caused by uncertainty about the proper communication channel. An infl ation tax could help to bring down the mounting public debt in the wake of the fi nancial crisis, but higher wealth taxes have more transparent distributional effects.     

The Effect of Employment while in High School on Educational Attainment: A Conditional Difference‐in‐Differences Approach*

Using American panel data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, this article investigates the effect of working during grade 12 on attainment. We employ, for the first time in the related literature, a semiparametric propensity score matching approach combined with difference‐in‐differences. We address selection on both observables and unobservables associated with part‐time work decisions, without the need for instrumental variable. Once such factors are controlled for, little to no effects on reading and math scores are found. Overall, our results therefore suggest a negligible academic cost from part‐time working by the end of high school.     

Integrating art as a trans‐boundary element in a radical innovation framework

Companies have learned that radical innovations (RIs) are a prerequisite to grow organically. However, companies struggle to identify and introduce RIs, as their inherent high uncertainties and novelty challenge established organisations and management routines. To address the first challenge, companies need to take a holistic approach and design a trans‐boundary environment of creativity, trans‐disciplinary and entrepreneurial spirit. This environment attracts and retains visionary people, fosters generation of new opportunities and cultivates adaptability. By adapting evaluation metrics for RI, setting up flexible processes, and promoting trans‐disciplinary exchange, the second challenge can be addressed. Increased research has concentrated on several aspects of RI lately, but so far a combining framework is missing. Our paper bridges this gap by developing an improved theoretical framework, enhancing the existing literature and introducing art as a method to advance trans‐disciplinary interchange. In a case‐study approach, we have applied our framework to the research and development department of Vodafone Research and Development, Germany, as they integrate art methodically in their research and development process. Analysing their RI capabilities, we identify the trans‐disciplinary exchange with artists as a novel initiator and driver of RI, which has not yet been adequately considered.     

Inflation and output dynamics in a model with labor market search and capital accumulation

In a sticky-price model with labor market search and habit persistence, Walsh (2005) shows that inertia in the interest rate policy helps to reconcile the inflation and output persistence with empirical observations for the US economy. We show that this finding is sensitive with regard to the introduction of capital formation. While we are able to replicate the findings for the inflation inertia in a model with capital adjustment costs and variable capacity utilization, the output response to an interest shock is found to be too large and no longer hump-shaped in this case. In addition we find that the response of output to a technology shock can only be reconciled with empirical findings if either the adjustment of the utilization rate is very costly or there is only a modest amount of nominal rigidity in the economy.     

Die Ver?nderung des abschlusspolitischen Potenzials durch das BilMoG im Lichte der?Entscheidungsnützlichkeit der Rechnungslegung

Mit dem Bilanzrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz wollte der Gesetzgeber unter anderem eine im Verh?ltnis zu den IFRS gleichwertige, d. h. ebenso entscheidungsnützliche, aber einfachere und kostengünstigere Alternative bieten. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurden verschiedene Wahlrechte gestrichen, Bilanzierungsverbote aufgehoben und Bilanzierungsmethoden ver?ndert. Aus Sicht der Abschlusspolitik wurden damit einerseits explizite Wahlrechte verringert und andererseits implizite Wahlrechte geschaffen. Zudem bergen auch die übergangsvorschriften abschlusspolitisches Potenzial. Nach einer Einordnung der Abschlusspolitik und der Herausarbeitung der konkreten Potenziale werden die Konsequenzen in Bezug auf die Entscheidungsnützlichkeit diskutiert und die m?glichen Auswirkungen der ge?nderten Rechnungslegungsnormen am Beispiel der Bilanzierung von Pensionsverpflichtungen deutscher IFRS-Anwender empirisch belegt.