Short-term borrowing for long-term projects: Are family businesses more susceptible to 'irrational' financing choices?

There are noticeable differences between the roles that various forms of credit financing play in family businesses and in other businesses. Family businesses take out more often bank loans specifically to finance investments and innovations, and they particularly often resort to the short-term and relatively expensive option of an overdraft. How can we explain these differences in financing choices? Do family businesses tend to use shorter-term, more expensive sources of financing because they face more restrictions than other or are there other motives such as financial independence at play? Our econometric approach to these issues is to study the financing behaviour and creditworthiness. For both of these aspects, we compare family businesses with non-family-run businesses that otherwise have the same characteristics. Our results do not confirm that family businesses are faced by stronger financial constraints but they indicate that family firms are prepared to accept higher financing costs in order to preserve their financial independence. --Corporate financing,innovation,family businesses,financing restrictions

The Impact of a Stock Market Downturn on Corporate Financing Activities in Germany

The paper analyses the potential impact of stock market developments on lending behaviour from different perspectives. First we scrutinize the impact of stock market movements on the banks' and on the borrowers' balance sheets. Subsequently we estimate aggregate credit supply and demand functions including a stock market indicator as explanatory variable. The analysis reveals no major importance of the bank balance sheet channel for the relationship between stock market volatility and corporate financing possibilities of non-financial companies. A possible impact of stock market movements on banks' lending behaviour might be rooted in their impact on the balance sheets of corporate borrowers. The empirical results of the credit market analysis yield some confirming evidence for an impact of stock market developments. However, the results are not very stable and depend on the specification of the model and on the time period under observation. --

Social return on investment of mutual support based housing projects: Potential for socio-economic cost savings and higher living quality

Our paper describes the results of a Social Return on Investment analysis of four new housing projects in Germany. A common characteristic of all projects is the central importance of mutual neighborly support to meet the demand for the assistance of older residents. All projects share some common architectural features and infrastructural characteristics. Furthermore, in each housing project, some form of support by social workers takes place. Using a propensity score matching approach, we compare for the first time systematically the costs for support of older people in mutual support based housing projects with a control group of people living in conventional settings. Our results, based on a sample of more than 700 residents, point not only to improvements in living satisfaction, but indicate also a huge potential for socio-economic cost savings. This can partly be explained by better development of residents' health status. --Senior Housing,Cohousing,Mutual support,Assisted Living,Long term care

Cointegration of Real Estate Stocks and REITs with Common Stocks, Bonds and Consumer Price Inflation – an International Comparison

This paper analyses the performance of real estate securities and their relationship to other asset classes as well as to consumer price inflation in an international comparison over the period from 1990 to 2004. In general, real estate securities seem to represent an asset class distinct from bonds and stocks in most countries. In the long run they seem provide a potential for further diversification of asset portfolios. Additionally, real estate stocks provide a (weak) hedge against consumer price inflation in almost every country

Nachgelagerte Besteuerung privater Altersvorsorgeaufwendungen – Auswirkungen auf die Alterseinkommen ausgewählter Haushaltstypen

Gegenstand ist die Untersuchung der Auswirkungen der privaten, staatlich geförderten Altersvorsorge (Riester-Rente) auf die Alterseinkommen und die Konsummöglichkeiten im Alter nach Wohnkosten. Zu diesem Zweck wurde ein Simulationsmodell entwickelt, dass die Steuer- und Abgabenbelastung von Beispielhaushalten über ihren gesamten Lebenszyklus umfassend abbildet. Berücksichtigt werden sowohl alle bereits heute gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zum Übergang zur nachgelagerten Besteuerung der gesetzlichen Renten als auch alle gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zur Dämpfung des Beitragssatzanstiegs in der Rentenversicherung. Besondere Berücksichtigung finden die aktuellen Überlegungen zur Integration der Wohneigentumsförderung in die staatliche Förderung der privaten Altersvorsorge

Nachgelagerte Besteuerung privater Altersvorsorgeaufwendungen: Auswirkungen auf die Alterseinkommen ausgewählter Haushaltstypen

Gegenstand ist die Untersuchung der Auswirkungen der privaten, staatlich geförderten Altersvorsorge (Riester-Rente) auf die Alterseinkommen und die Konsummöglichkeiten im Alter nach Wohnkosten. Zu diesem Zweck wurde ein Simulationsmodell entwickelt, dass die Steuer- und Abgabenbelastung von Beispielhaushalten über ihren gesamten Lebenszyklus umfassend abbildet. Berücksichtigt werden sowohl alle bereits heute gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zum Übergang zur nachgelagerten Besteuerung der gesetzlichen Renten als auch alle gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zur Dämpfung des Beitragssatzanstiegs in der Rentenversicherung. Besondere Berücksichtigung finden die aktuellen Überlegungen zur Integration der Wohneigentumsförderung in die staatliche Förderung der privaten Altersvorsorge. --

Nachgelagerte Besteuerung privater Altersvorsorgeaufwendungen: Auswirkungen auf die Alterseinkommen ausgewählter Haushaltstypen

Gegenstand ist die Untersuchung der Auswirkungen der privaten, staatlich geförderten Altersvorsorge (Riester-Rente) auf die Alterseinkommen und die Konsummöglichkeiten im Alter nach Wohnkosten. Zu diesem Zweck wurde ein Simulationsmodell entwickelt, dass die Steuer- und Abgabenbelastung von Beispielhaushalten über ihren gesamten Lebenszyklus umfassend abbildet. Berücksichtigt werden sowohl alle bereits heute gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zum Übergang zur nachgelagerten Besteuerung der gesetzlichen Renten als auch alle gesetzlich verankerten Maßnahmen zur Dämpfung des Beitragssatzanstiegs in der Rentenversicherung. Besondere Berücksichtigung finden die aktuellen Überlegungen zur Integration der Wohneigentumsförderung in die staatliche Förderung der privaten Altersvorsorge. --

Social return on investment of mutual support based housing projects : potential for socio-economic cost savings and higher living quality

Our paper describes the results of a Social Return on Investment analysis of four new housing projects in Germany. A common characteristic of all projects is the central importance of mutual neighborly support to meet the demand for the assistance of older residents. All projects share some common architectural features and infrastructural characteristics. Furthermore, in each housing project, some form of support by social workers takes place. Using a propensity score matching approach, we compare for the first time systematically the costs for support of older people in mutual support based housing projects with a control group of people living in conventional settings. Our results, based on a sample of more than 700 residents, point not only to improvements in living satisfaction, but indicate also a huge potential for socio-economic cost savings. This can partly be explained by better development of residents’ health status

Auswirkungen der Besteuerung von Kapitaleinkünften und Veräußerungsgewinnen auf Vermögensbildung und Finanzmärkte : Status quo und Reformoptionen

Die vorliegende Untersuchung analysiert die Auswirkungen einer erweiterten Besteuerung privater Veräußerungsgewinne im Geldvermögen. In diesem Zusammenhang werden auch weitere in jüngster Zeit diskutierte Reformoptionen analysiert

The Impact of a Stock Market Downturn on Corporate Financing Activities in Germany

The paper analyses the potential impact of stock market developments on lending behaviour from different perspectives. First we scrutinize the impact of stock market movements on the banks' and on the borrowers' balance sheets. Subsequently we estimate aggregate credit supply and demand functions including a stock market indicator as explanatory variable. The analysis reveals no major importance of the bank balance sheet channel for the relationship between stock market volatility and corporate financing possibilities of non-financial companies. A possible impact of stock market movements on banks' lending behaviour might be rooted in their impact on the balance sheets of corporate borrowers. The empirical results of the credit market analysis yield some confirming evidence for an impact of stock market developments. However, the results are not very stable and depend on the specification of the model and on the time period under observation