Essays on the theory of productive government activity and economic growth [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Johanna Kühnel

Essays on the Theory ofProductive Government Activityand Economic GrowthInauguraldissertation zur Erlangung der Wurdeeines Doktors der Wirtschaftswissenschaften an derFakult at fur Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftender Ruprecht-Karls-Universit at Heidelbergvorgelegt vonJohanna KuhnelDezember 2010AcknowledgmentsFirst and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Andreas Irmen for his excellentguidance, ongoing support, and remarkable availability during the writing of this disser-tation. I have bene ted a lot from his valuable comments and motivating feedback onthe content of my research and the way of presenting it. I am grateful for his continuoushelp and con dence in me.I also wish to thank Berthold Wigger for his immediate willingness to join the dissertationcommittee.Moreover, I would like to express my gratitude to all members of the Chair of EconomicPolicy who have assisted and accompanied me over the past years. Special thanks goto Thomas Eife who was always ready to discuss my work and provided many helpfulcomments. I have learned a lot from his suggestions and advice and greatly appreciatehis encouraging support at the right time.Many other colleagues and friends have helped to make my time at the University ofHeidelberg both enjoyable and enriching, especially Jianfeng Chen, Nathalie Jorzik,Andrea Leuermann, Christoph Lipponer, Amaranta Melchor del R o and of course allmy AWI football friends.