@book{KiesewetterGromMenzeletal.2016,
  author    = {Kiesewetter, Dirk and Grom, Michael and Menzel, Moritz and Tschinkl, Dominik},
  title     = {Optimierungsm{\"o}glichkeiten bei den bestehenden steuer- und sozialversicherungsrechtlichen F{\"o}rderregelungen der betrieblichen Altersversorgung},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-030-6 (print)},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-031-3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128597},
  publisher      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {300},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Germany's old-age retirement system is based on three pillars: the statutory pension scheme, company pension schemes (CPS), and private retirement funds. The current government's coalition agreement expressly foresees a strengthening of CPS since its popularity has heavily stagnated in recent years. The intention is to optimize the fiscal and social insurance-related framework for CPS in an attempt to encourage its wider use. The present expert opinion is a contribution towards this effort. There is considerable potential for this especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and earners of low and very low incomes, since these groups are disproportionately under-represented when it comes to CPS takeup. In light of this, this opinion gives priority to these target groups. The study is structured as follows. First, a comprehensive literature review is provided and guided interviews with experts performed in order to identify obstacles to the continued spread of CPS among the target groups under review. Then, interviews are held with employers in the SME category as well as earners of low and very low incomes in order to verify the obstacles identified during the first step and consider any additional insights. On this basis, the authors consider which reforms may prove effective in addressing the identified obstacles. Here, as instructed, any potential reforms should endeavor not to create a financial burden on Germany's tax and social insurance authorities. We then subject these reform ideas to an empirical review that involves interviews with SME tax advisers and again with earners of low and very low incomes. Having analyzed these interviews and discussing additional practical considerations, we explicitly recommend the implementation of selected reforms. In doing so, the authors propose the following two concrete recommendations. Recommendation 1 suggests introducing a mandatory employer contribution on top of deferred compensation that corresponds to the amount of social insurance contributions that are saved as a result, of which employees would be the obvious beneficiaries. This would result in an increase in employers' financial burden compared to the status quo. To compensate, a "CPS deduction" would be introduced as a tax incentive for small enter-prises that decide to introduce a CPS for their employees. This deduction would function similarly to the investment deduction option afforded under Section 7g of the German Income Tax Act, resulting in a positive liquidity and tax deferment effect for small enterprises. Recommendation 2 aims at incentivizing employees to participate in a CPS. Two alternatives are offered. Either Germany's existing Riester subsidy system could be better integrated into CPS schemes by eliminating the duplication of contributions that exists under the status quo. Alternatively, a "CPS subsidy" could be introduced. This would involve granting a statutory subsidy to employers that contribute a certain minimum amount to the CPS on behalf of their employees. As a consequence, employees would be able to participate in a CPS without having to make a contribution of their own, which would have the desired effect especially for earners of low and very low incomes. In connection with Recommendation 2, the authors mention two additional aspects that ought to be implemented for the benefit of employees. One, a restriction should be placed on the extent to which CPS payments are set off against basic social security payments. Two, the acquisition costs of insurance-based CPS solutions should be spread across the entire term of the agreement, meaning that no commission fees can be retained that relate to contributions that haven't yet been made. Finally, the authors recommend two measures that serve to flexibilize and simplify the legal framework surrounding CPS: an increase in the tax- and social insurance contribution-exempt total outlay in the presence of insurance-based external funding and, related to this, a switch from an annualized to a lifetime- or length-of-service-based approach.},
  subject      = {Betriebliche Altersversorgung},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{SonntagHashimotoEyrichetal.2018,
  author    = {Sonntag, Katja and Hashimoto, Hisayoshi and Eyrich, Matthias and Menzel, Moritz and Schubach, Max and D{\"o}cker, Dennis and Battke, Florian and Courage, Carolina and Lambertz, Helmut and Handgretinger, Rupert and Biskup, Saskia and Schilbach, Karin},
  title     = {Immune monitoring and TCR sequencing of CD4 T cells in a long term responsive patient with metastasized pancreatic ductal carcinoma treated with individualized, neoepitope-derived multipeptide vaccines: a case report},
  series = {Journal of Translational Medicine},
  volume    = {16},
  journal   = {Journal of Translational Medicine},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12967-018-1382-1},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-239276},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Background Cancer vaccines can effectively establish clinically relevant tumor immunity. Novel sequencing approaches rapidly identify the mutational fingerprint of tumors, thus allowing to generate personalized tumor vaccines within a few weeks from diagnosis. Here, we report the case of a 62-year-old patient receiving a four-peptide-vaccine targeting the two sole mutations of his pancreatic tumor, identified via exome sequencing. Methods Vaccination started during chemotherapy in second complete remission and continued monthly thereafter. We tracked IFN-γ+ T cell responses against vaccine peptides in peripheral blood after 12, 17 and 34 vaccinations by analyzing T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity and epitope-binding regions of peptide-reactive T-cell lines and clones. By restricting analysis to sorted IFN-γ-producing T cells we could assure epitope-specificity, functionality, and TH1 polarization. Results A peptide-specific T-cell response against three of the four vaccine peptides could be detected sequentially. Molecular TCR analysis revealed a broad vaccine-reactive TCR repertoire with clones of discernible specificity. Four identical or convergent TCR sequences could be identified at more than one time-point, indicating timely persistence of vaccine-reactive T cells. One dominant TCR expressing a dual TCRVα chain could be found in three T-cell clones. The observed T-cell responses possibly contributed to clinical outcome: The patient is alive 6 years after initial diagnosis and in complete remission for 4 years now. Conclusions Therapeutic vaccination with a neoantigen-derived four-peptide vaccine resulted in a diverse and long-lasting immune response against these targets which was associated with prolonged clinical remission. These data warrant confirmation in a larger proof-of concept clinical trial.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Menzel2020,
  author    = {Menzel, Moritz},
  title     = {Das Betriebsrentenst{\"a}rkungsgesetz und seine Auswirkungen auf Geringverdiener. Eine modelltheoretische Analyse},
  edition   = {1. Auflage},
  publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  address   = {W{\"u}rzburg},
  isbn      = {978-3-95826-126-6},
  doi       = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-127-3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-191753},
  school      = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press},
  pages     = {XXII, 201},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Vor allem unter Geringverdienern ist die betriebliche Altersversorgung nur unterdurchschnittlich verbreitet. Mit dem zum 01.01.2018 in Kraft getretenen Betriebsrentenst{\"a}rkungsgesetz und insbesondere dem sogenannten BAV-F{\"o}rderbetrag (\S 100 EStG) versucht der Gesetzgeber daher, diese Altersvorsorgeform attraktiver zu gestalten und so deren Verbreitung unter Geringverdienern auszuweiten. Dass dieses Ziel zumindest aus modelltheoretischer Sicht erreicht werden kann, zeigen die Ergebnisse dieser Studie auf. Anhand eines deterministischen Rechenmodells werden die finanziellen Vor- und Nachteile verschiedener Vorsorgealternativen aufgedeckt und pr{\"a}zise beziffert. Daneben widmet sich die Arbeit auch den steuer-, sozialversicherungs- und arbeitsrechtlichen Regelungen der betrieblichen Altersversorgung vor und nach Inkrafttreten des Betriebsrentenst{\"a}rkungsgesetzes und diskutiert dar{\"u}ber hinaus alternative Reformmaßnahmen.},
  subject      = {Betriebsrentenst{\"a}rkungsgesetz},
  language  = {de}
}