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Aim:
The research project wants to link variations of the welfare state with the living conditions, relation patterns and attitudes of different generations. Therefore, four countries (Germany, France, Italy and Sweden) have been selected which represent different welfare state arrangements.

The enlargement of the European Union has strengthened interest for a systematic record on the quality of life in different European regions. Four of our unit’s externally funded projects dealt with the development of an extensive and systematic comparison of the living conditions in 28 European countries (EU-15, new member states, Turkey). In 2002, different spheres of life were examined more closely by using specially harmonised Eurobarometer data and reports on income situation, social exclusion, working conditions, fertility, health care as well as general quality of life were prepared.

This project focuses on various aspects of innovation and technological progress.  New technologies and products are introduced in markets through entry and exit of firms, and investments by existing firms.  These mechanisms of technological progress are important for economic growth and prosperity.  The effects of innovation on markets, markets for innovations, innovation incentives in imperfectly competitive markets, and cooperation incentives among innovative firms are studied.  Both theoretical and empirical research is done in this project.

Our research analyzes the relationship between labor market institutions (i.e. collective bargaining) and competition in oligopolistic industries.  From a theoretical perspective, this project contributes to the understanding of bargaining in bilateral oligopoly markets; that is markets in which a few sellers face a few buyers. In addition, from a more applied perspective, our work contributes to the understanding of how specific labor market institutions effect the behavior of firms.  For example, what is the effect of exempting labor market organizations from antitrust laws?  What is the effect of making collective wage agreements generally binding?