German Survey

Abstract

This comparative study is based on the questionnaire of 1995 Wharton Survey of US nonfinancial firms that was used with only minor modifications in the 1997 German study. The US questionnaire was sent out to a broad-based sample of 2000 US companies including all Fortune 500 firms in the fall of 1995. Three hundred and fifty firms responded to the questionnaire. The German questionnaire was sent to 368 firms comprising large private firms and quoted companies with an annual turnover of DM 200 million or more with the exception of regional breweries, regional public utilities, and local public transportation companies. The German questionnaire was sent in the spring of 1997 and 126 firms responded.