On the Existence of Chaotic Policy Functions in Dynamic Optimization

Applying the characterization results from Mitra and Sorger (1999), we show that topological chaos is a robust phenomenon in standard aggregative growth models even under arbitrary mild discounting. Furthermore, we state exact discount factor restrictions, under which two of the most popular examples of chaotic dynamics, the logistic map and the tent map, can be optimal policy functions of aggregative growth models.
JEL Classification Numbers: C61, O41.     

Determinants of heterogeneity in European credit ratings

In this study, we empirically analyze the determinants of heterogeneity in rating assessments across different segments of the European loan market. We conduct a benchmarking analysis using rating information on European corporate obligors from nine major Austrian banks that have a large share of foreign lending, particularly in the Central and Eastern European region. We provide evidence that, generally, overall heterogeneity among rating outcomes for foreign markets is higher than for domestic markets. Furthermore, we show that heterogeneity increases in transition economies and those markets where Austrian bank involvement is relatively low. Our evidence supports the hypothesis that heterogeneity in the assessment of credit risk is determined not only by the objective quality of information, which is deemed to be lower in transition economies, but also by the subjective access to information about obligors measured by the level of domestic bank involvement in the respective foreign market. Furthermore, we quantify potential effects on regulatory capital requirements.     

Environmental (De-) Regulation, Competition, and Policy Rules

This article analyzes some problems regarding our knowledge of environmental policy. Sustainable development as the prospective enlargement of the political agenda has been identified as a long-term challenge for economic policy which could get trapped in a new form of interventionism. The evolutionary market approach that is presented here focuses on development risks of environmental policy that are mostly neglected in standard theory. A transfer of the Hayekian concept of negative rules to the realm of environmental policy is critically discussed. A straight-forward transfer of Hayek's theory stressing the importance of negative rules cannot be recommended, since even the negative rules carry some development risks in the realm of environmental policy. Some preliminary political consequences are drawn which are appropriate to limit the extension of environmental targets in the future.     

Get Ready for Innovation by Invasion

From many years of field research in West Germany and the United States, and especially from a recent study of relatively mature firms in Ohio, Gerhard Mensch has become aware of the disruption caused by the invasion of industries by new technologies from the outside. He sees the frequency of these invasions increasing in coming years for reasons that go beyond technological matters to the pressures for change coming from the capital markets. In this Perspective , he suggests the invasions can be countered and the capital markets satisfied by giving a more prominent role to the innovation manager in the strategy development process.     

Welfare effects of the euro cash changeover

Using merged data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), this paper applies a parametric difference-in-differences approach to assess the real effects of the introduction of the euro on subjective well-being. A complementary nonparametric approach is also used to analyze the impact of difficulties with the new currency on well-being. The results indicate a loss in well-being associated with the introduction of the new currency, with the predicted probability that a person is contented with his/her household income diminishing by 9.7 percentage points. We calculate a compensating income variation of approximately one-third. That is, an increase in post-government household income of more than 30% is needed to compensate for the clear decline in well-being. The reasons for the negative impact are threefold. First, perceived inflation overestimates the real increase in prices resulting in suboptimal consumption decisions. Second, money illusion causes a false assessment of the budget constraint. Third, individuals have to bear the costs from the conversion and the adjustment to the new currency. Moreover, it is thought that losses are higher for persons who have difficulties with the new currency. However, the impact of difficulties in using and converting the new currency is rather small, and the initial problems were overcome within one year of the introduction of euro cash.     

The addictive trait in buying behaviour

Subsequent to two reports in JCP on empirical studies of “compulsive consumption’ (Faber & O'Guinn. 1988a; Valence, d'Astous. & Fortier, 1988) the author presents the conceptual foundations of an ongoing West German study of addictive buying. He argues that it is consistent with psychological knowledge, and will lead to additional insights, to speak of addictive instead of compulsive buying and consumption. Addictive buying, like other addictions, is viewed as an attempt to compensate for a distortion of autonomy incurred in childhood, and reinforced in adolescence and adulthood, as a reaction to key experiences which seem to occur increasingly in contemporary industrial societies.     

Mehr Schutz vor ausländischen Direktinvestitionen?

Currently, there is no comprehensive legal framework at EU level to screen foreign direct investments (FDI) into the EU. In September 2017, the European Commission proposed a framework for screening foreign direct investments into the European Union. The reform will likely come into force at the end of 2018. This paper describes the political background and key concepts of the FDI screening framework and analyses potential economic effects of the new regulation.