Analysis of possible decoupling consequences for the financial sector

As will be indicated frequently, research suffers from a fundamental methodological problem – so far apparently unsolvable – regarding the existence and the nature of decoupling consequences for the financial sector: the joint hypothesis test. The question of whether there are decoupling consequences is measured by whether certain time series of economic indicators can be explained by models that are regarded as the “norm” and which are based on certain rationality and behavioral assumptions. The statements that can be made, however, indicate no more than a certain level of evidence because it cannot be assumed with absolute certainty that the underlying model adequately reflects reality. If a supposed decoupling consequence is identified, all that can be said ultimately is that a certain time series does not conform to the fundamental model.