Essays on policy competition [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Ferdinand Mittermaier

Essays on Policy CompetitionInauguraldissertationzur Erlangung des GradesDoctor oeconomiae publicae(Dr. oec. publ.)an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit˜at Munc˜ henVolkswirtschaftliche Fakult˜at2009vorgelegt vonFerdinand MittermaierReferent: Prof. Dr. Andreas Hau erKorreferent: Prof. Dr. Michael P uger˜Datum der mundlic˜ hen Prufung:˜ 22. Januar 2010Promotionsabschlussberatung: 10. Februar 2010AcknowledgementsMyflrstandforemostthanksgotomysupervisors,AndreasHau erandMichaelP uger,˜ fortheircontinuous stream of ideas, attention, critical comments and encouragement. Andreas Hau eralways had his door, and above all mind, open for all the major and minor questions that arose,whichprovedextremelyhelpfultome. MichaelP uger˜ notonlygavememanyvaluablecommentson my difierent research projects on workshops; he also always took the time to help me on thephone when I needed advice. I am indebted to Hyun-Ju Koh and Johannes Rincke, for a verystimulating exchange of ideas and the time and efiort they invested in our joint projects, which Ienjoyed and from which I learned a lot. During my work on this thesis, I benefltted from manyfruitful conversationswith fellowgraduatestudents atthe Munich Graduate School of Economicsand the Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics, which I also thank for flnancial and logisticsupport.