In this paper we empirically analyze the macroeconomic detenninants of insolvencies in Germany since 1970. It is shown that the growth rate of insolvencies can be explained by changes in the rate of return to capital and by preceding changes in the money market interest rate and the inflation rate, as well as by lagged effects of preceding changes in bankruptcies. We also find that Gennan unification contributed to a rise of bankruptcy rates both in West Gennany and in East Germany.