This series is meant to bring selected studies of the Ifo Institute and work emerging from our numerous research co-operations to the attention of an international audience. The books included in this series are either international in their themes, dealing with important aspects of economic development and institutional design that are often looked at in a comparative fashion. Or, alternatively, even if the contributions are to some extent focused on the economic situation and economic policy in Germany or Europe, they are considered to be of broader interest for academics, business people and policy-makers elsewhere. In any case, or aim is to contribute to establishing a joint, international forum for the discussion of results of applied research on economic policy issues that are topical around the world.