Research

Working  papers

Weakest links in space – On the voluntary provision of public goods in overlapping neighborhoods (Revise and Resubmit, under review) (Draft available upon request)

(with A. Lange) 

We report laboratory evidence on the voluntary provision of weakest-link  public goods in a novel spatial setting. Subjects are located on a circle and interact in overlapping neighborhoods. We investigate how endowment heterogeneity and the spatial distribution of endowments affect the final provision of the public good. We find that the detrimental effects of endowment heterogeneity arise specifically when endowment types are clustered, but not when high and low types alternate. In all settings, players provide in-kind transfers only within their own neighborhood. Replacing direct transfers by an intermediary common account to overcome transfer coordination does not improve average weakest links public good provision, but can decrease inequality depending on the spatial clustering of endowments in space.

A good neighbor – a found treasure: on the voluntary public good provision in overlapping neighborhoods (Under review)(Draft available upon request)

(with J. Koch, A. Lange) 

Providing for a public good that benefits the poor might be more lucrative for the rich if they benefit likewise. Until now the literature on cooperation between heterogeneous actors still largely ignores spatial distribution patterns. Inspired by ideas of policymakers advocating mixed neighborhoods and the general problem of public goods benefiting some groups relatively more than others, we investigate the role of varying spatial allocations of rich and poor for the voluntary provision of public goods. We provide experimental evidence on the importance of specific allocation patterns for increased contribution as well as redistribution among rich and poor. We find that participants do invest in others’ locations but only in a way that they themselves still benefit, i.e. into the locations of their direct neighbors. Transfers to non‑neighbors are rare and the spatial allocation (whether rich and poor are alternating or are clustered) does not seem to change this pattern.

Heterogeneous effects of carbon taxation on green innovation (Draft available upon request)

 In this study, I assess the effect that a German tax reform affecting electricity and fuel consumption had on green innovation. The empirical analysis uses data from EPO's PATSTAT database, covering patents related to green technologies from 1990 to 2009, as well as firm-level information from Bureau van Dijk's Orbis database. By using a matching difference-in-differences design, I estimate the effect of the reform on the green innovation activities of firms. The results show no evidence that the Ecotax affected the number of green energy and transport patents filed by German firms already involved in green innovation. Furthermore, no effects are found either when differentiating firms by their size or economic sector of activity. Potential explanations for this finding are discussed, raising questions on how exceptions included in carbon pricing mechanisms might nullify incentives for innovation.

Work in Progress

Taking part in research and transfer: motivation and obstacles of low-SES individuals 

(with A. Lange, C. Schwirplies) 

Status: Data analysis/preparation of draft

Attributing Increases in Green Patenting to Disruptive Innovation Policies 

(with P. Klösel, N. Koch, L. Menicacci, N. Rochowicz, A. Stechemesser) 

Status: Data analysis/preparation of draft

Can you engineer a Silicon Valley? Long-run effects of BioRegio initiative on innovation 

(with S. Badini) 

Status: Data analysis