Flexible utilization of labor strengthens industrial enterprises´ ability to adapt to fluctuations in business - an empirical east-west comparison based on the IAB company panel
Brigitte Loose, Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2004
Abstract
Based on an individual data set, this article investigates the question of which conventional methods and new instruments companies use to adapt to fluctuations in business and what distinguishes these companies from other ones which have not implemented such instruments. In particular, the role of the technical equipment as well as the personnel policy and tariff policy are analyzed. An empirical comparison between the East and West German manufacturing industries demonstrates whether East German firms have competitive advantages. While the technological conditions for firms´ flexibility are somewhat less pronounced in East German, the proportion of “standardized“ and flexible employment is nearly the same in the East-West comparison. Differences exist among small, middle-sized and large firms as well as among types of yield. The weak orientation with respect to agreed wages and hours worked as well as the mainly gratuitous reduction of unpaid overtime which can be implemented over the whole year, prove to be an advantage. The investigation is based on a data set from the IAB company panel of manufacturing industries in 2003.
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Is East Germany successful in catching up? An empirical investigation of the technological capability in manufacturing industry
Jutta Günther, Harald Lehmann
VEST Journal for Science and Technology Studies,
No. 1,
2004
Abstract
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Technological capability of foreign and West German investors in East Germany
Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 189,
2004
Abstract
Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays an important role for countries or regions in the process of economic catching-up since it is assumed – among other things – that FDI brings in new production technology and knowledge. This paper gives an overview about the development of FDI in East Germany based on official data provided by the Federal Bank of Germany. The investigation also includes a comparison of FDI in East Germany to Central East European countries. But the main focus of the paper is an analysis of the technological capability comparing majority foreign and West German owned firms to majority East German owned firms. It shows that foreign and West German subsidiaries in East Germany are indeed characterized by superior technological capability with respect to all indicators looked at (product innovation, research & development, organizational changes etc.).
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The development of R&D intensive industries in East Germany makes progress
Siegfried Beer
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2004
Abstract
For East Germany – also called the New German Länder – it is very important to enlarge human capital intensive production. Starting from this consideration, the empirical study investigates the development of research & development (R&D) intensive industries for the years 1998 to 2002 whereby the different technology classes are also taken into account. The study is based on official statistics for producer goods. The analysis shows that the production of goods from R&D intensive industries increased stronger than the total production in East Germany’s manufacturing industry (8.5% versus 5.9%). Especially the increased production of high-technology goods contributed to this development. Most important branches thereby are electronic industry and aerospace industry. Medium-tech industries were less important for the above described trend. Overall, the development indicates an improvement of the technological capability of East Germany’s manufacturing industry. Compared to West Germany, however, the production of goods from medium-tech industries is underrepresented. Further more, it is only one group of products in East Germany’s industry that plays a dominant role within Germany as a whole. This is electronic devices.
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Technology spillovers through foreign direct investment. An empirical investigation on the example of Hungarian industry
Jutta Günther
Schriften des IWH,
No. 14,
2003
Abstract
With the beginning of transition in Central East European countries, foreign direct investment increased strongly whereby foreign subsidiaries transfer modern production technology and management know-how. However, it has remained an open question, how far domestic enterprises also benefit from these developments via technology spillovers. The study points out theoretically possible channels of technology spillovers and empirically investigates the significance, scope and influencing factors of the various spillovers channels on the example of Hungarian industry. The findings show that there are hardly any spillover effects in Hungarian industry so far. Major reasons for that are the strong technological disparities between foreign subsidiaries and domestic firms as well as the lack of labor mobility from foreign to domestic enterprises.
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Firm-Specific Determinants of Productivity Gaps between East and West German Industrial Branches
Johannes Stephan, Karin Szalai
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 183,
2003
Abstract
Industrial productivity levels of formerly socialist economies in Central East Europe (including East Germany) are considerably lower than in the more mature Western economies. This research aims at assessing the reasons for lower productivities at the firm level: what are the firm-specific determinants of productivity gaps. To assess this, we have conducted an extensive field study and focussed on a selection of two important manufacturing industries, namely machinery manufacturers and furniture manufacturers, and on the construction industry. Using the data generated in field work, we test a set of determinant-candidates which were derived from theory and prior research in that topic. Our analysis uses the simplest version of the matched-pair approach, in which first hypothesis about relevant productivity level-determinants are tested. In a second step, positively tested hypothesis are further assessed in terms of whether they also constitute firm-specific determinants of the apparent gaps between the firms in our Eastern and such in our Western panels. Our results suggest that the quality of human capital plays an important role in all three industrial branches assessed. Amongst manufacturing firms, networking activities and the use of modern technologies for communication are important reasons for the lower levels of labour productivity in the East. The intensity of long-term strategic planning on behalf of the management turned out to be relevant only for machinery manufacturers. Product and process innovations unexpectedly exhibit an ambiguous picture, as did the extent of specialisation on a small number of products in the firms’ portfolio and the intensity of competition.
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Standortbedingungen der Biotechnologiebranche - Eine Analyse zur Identifikation von Erfolgsfaktoren für Biotechnologiefirmen und Bioregionen
Walter Komar
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 176,
2003
Abstract
The paper analyzes the factors, which are important for the success of biotechnology companies and bio regions. For these purposes the local conditions of an advanced bio region are compared with a not so advanced bio region in a bench mark approach. The significant factors for the success of biotechnology companies and bio regions are identified by the logistic regression analysis. The result is that a bundle of factors for the development of biotechnology companies and bio regions is important. Therein the supply of human capital, networks and public research in the region play an outstanding role.
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FDI Subsidiaries and Industrial Integration of Central Europe: Conceptual and Empirical Results
Boris Majcen, Slavo Radosevic, Matija Rojec
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 177,
2003
Abstract
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Local conditions for the New Economy in structurally weak areas: The Example of Saxony-Anhalt
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2003
Abstract
The paper presents the main results of an analysis of the regional conditions for the New Economy in Saxonia-Anhalt, i. e. for the sectors of modern biotechnology and modern information technology. Therefore, the regional conditions in Saxonia-Anhalt and the Raumordungsregion (ROR) Munich are compared. Latter region is one of the most advanced areas in Germany with regard to the two sectors under consideration. As expected, the ROR Munich shows better results in most aspects. Nevertheless, an important result is that even in less economically advanced regions modern biotechnology and modern information technology have chances for a good economic performance. Therfore, these regions must use better their existing potentials and eliminate their still existing regional deficits.
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Ausländische Direktinvestitionen in der nachholenden wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung Mittelosteuropas
Jutta Günther
Gegen den Strich. Ökonomische Theorie und politische Regulierung.,
2003
Abstract
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