Optimal Monetary Policy in a Currency Union: The Role of the Cost Channel

In this paper we introduce the cost channel of monetary policy (e.g., Ravenna and Walsh, 2006) into an otherwise standard New Keynesian model of a two-country monetary union, which is being hit by aggregate, asymmetric and idiosyncratic shocks. The single central bank implements the optimal discretionary monetary policy by setting the union interest rate. The cost channel makes monetary policy less effective in combating in?action, but it is shown that the optimal response to the decline in effectiveness is a stronger use of the instrument. Moreover, we show how the sign of the spillover effects of idiosyncratic shocks depends on the strength of the cost channel. If the cost channel exceeds a well-defined threshold, then the interest rate turns into a supply-side instrument.cost channel; optimal monetary policy; monetary union; open economy macroeconomics

The Fixed Wage Puzzle : Why Profit Sharing Is So Hard to Implement

It is well known that profit sharing arrangements Pareto-dominate fixed wage contracts. Share agreements are (far) less than ubiquitous, however. This paper offers a solution of this „fixed wage puzzle“ by adopting a perspective of bounded rationality. We show that share arrangements that fulfill „plausible“ constraints are not generally acceptable to both firms and unions.

The Fixed Wage Puzzle: Why Profit Sharing Is So Hard to Implement

It is well known that profit sharing arrangements Pareto-dominate fixed wage contracts. Share agreements are (far) less than ubiquitous, however. This paper offers a solution of this "fixed wage puzzle“ by adopting a perspective of bounded rationality. We show that share arrangements that fulfill ”plausible“ constraints are not generally acceptable to both firms and unions.Profit Sharing, Share Economy, Remuneration Systems

Zur Reform der Leistungsformen der Pflegeversicherung: Ein familienökonomischer Ansatz

Die Verlagerung von der ambulanten zur stationären Pflege ist eine der Hauptursachen für die Ausgabensteigerungen der gesetzlichen Pflegeversicherung. Um diesen so genannten Heimsog zu reduzieren, haben die Pflegekassen ein Modellprojekt Personengebundenes Pflegebudgetinitiiert, das über ein erweitertes Leistungsspektrum und eine erleichterte Leistungsabrechnung eine Flexibilisierung des Pflegearrangements ermöglichen soll. Dies impliziert eine Stabilisierung der häuslichen Pflege und, so die Hoffnung, verzögert den Übergang zur stationären Pflege. Ziel dieses Papiers ist es, unter Verwendung eines familien-ökonomischen Ansatzes das mikroökonomische Kalkül bei der Wahl des Pflegearrangements modelltheoretisch zu analysieren. Es werden Hypothesen entwickelt zur Variation des Pflegearrangements bei Gewährung von Pflegegeld, Pflegesachleistungen und Pflegebudget

Mutual recognition of national regulations in the EC

The principle of the mutual recognition of national regulations is often seen as the best course towards the realization of the EC single market, but there still remains great uncertainty concerning the interpretation of this principle. Which companies must observe which regulations? Will there be changes affecting current competitive conditions

Optimal Monetary Policy in the Presence of Pricing-to-Market

This paper presents a general-equilibrium framework to revisit the issues of optimal monetary policies and international policy coordination in a two-country model, focusing on the role of a pricing-to-market (PTM) policy by firms. Both countries may be different with respect to PTM. Using the set-up developed by Corsetti and Pesenti (2001a) and Betts and Devereux (2000a,b), we show that (i) for a given Foreign monetary stance, a Home monetary expansion is beneficial for both countries only if Home PTM is at an intermediate range; (ii) in a world Nash equilibrium Home and Foreign welfare are bell-shaped in the degrees of PTM; (iii) relative welfare crucially depends on the degrees of PTM; (iv) there is a welfare gain from cooperation even in the cases of no and full PTM

Optimal monetary policy in a currency union: The role of the cost channel

In this paper we introduce the cost channel of monetary policy (e.g., Ravenna and Walsh, 2006) into an otherwise standard New Keynesian model of a two-country monetary union, which is being hit by aggregate, asymmetric and idiosyncratic shocks. The single central bank implements the optimal discretionary monetary policy by setting the union interest rate.The cost channel makes monetary policy less effective in combatting inflation, but it is shown that the optimal response to the decline in effectiveness is a stronger use of the instrument. Moreover, we show how the sign of the spillover effects of idiosyncratic shocks depends on the strength of the cost channel. If the cost channel exceeds a well-defined threshold, then the interest rate turns into a supply-side instrument

International Trade and Unemployment - the Worker-Selection Effect

This paper analyzes how trade liberalization influences the unemployment rate of workers with different abilities. We refine the Melitz (2003) framework to account for trade unions and heterogeneous workers, who differ with respect to their abilities. Our main ?findings are: (i) high ability workers profit from trade liberalization in terms of higher wages and higher employment; (ii) the least efficient workers loose their job and switch to long-term unemployment (worker-selection effect); (iii) if a country is endowed with a large fraction of low-skilled workers, trade liberalization leads to a rise in aggregate unemployment. In this case, trade liberalization may harm a countrys welfare.trade liberalization, trade unions, skill-specific unemployment