Institutions have both positive and negative effects on economic performance. The theoretical and empirical understanding of the roles played by institutions, norms and culture in the functioning of markets still is limited. This book contributes to a better understanding of the role played by institutions in economic life and to more balanced and better founded policy decisions related to the (re)structuring of industrial economies in response to the structural changes - internationalisation of the economies, the advances in information and communication technology and the ageing of populations - they all are confronted with.

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Introduction: L. Delsen, E. de Jong: Good Neighbours: Germany and the Netherlands.- Institutional Differences in the Welfare States: D. Soskice, B. Hancké, G. Trumbull, A. Wren: Wage Bargaining, Labour Markets and Macroeconomic Performance in Germany and the Netherlands; G. Schmid, M. Helmer: The Dutch Employment Miracle? A Comparison of Employment Systems in the Netherlands and Germany; A. van Meerendonk: Benchmarking the German and Dutch Welfare States.- Financial and Competition Policies: L. Hoogduin, H. Huisman: The Financial Structure in the Netherlands and Germany: Different, Harmonious, and on the Move?; R. Jochimsen: A Stable Partenership - German-Dutch Monetary Relations in the Run-up to EMU; R. Gradus: Comparing Dutch and German Competition Policies.- Concluding Remarks: L. Delsen, E. de Jong: Germany and the Netherlands: Who Follows Whom?