Current empirical studies of decoupling characteristics

This chapter aims to describe and analyze the actual development of the financial asset ratio and the financial turnover ratio, i.e. the defining characteristics of the decoupling hypothesis using three concrete examples. So far, the increase in these two ratios or in related ratios — such as the financial asset coefficient and volume of credit to real reference figures — was accepted as given. In this respect, the issue is less an examination of the fact as such, and more an analysis of what has happened. How clearly have these ratios risen, for example, to what precise definitions does this apply, and above all: is it possible to reach any conclusions about the back- ground? If, on the basis of the causal areas highlighted in Section 2.3, the real economy base were to predominate, financial sector expansion would be no more than its somewhat more complicated mirror image. Even in this case, however, it could emerge that the suspected negative conse- quences under the decoupling hypothesis will apply (although this is not discussed in detail until Chapter Four).