A Panel Data Analysis on China's Intra-Industry Trade in the Capital Goods Sector
Yiping Zhu
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 18,
2009
Abstract
This paper adopts the Hausman-Taylor 2SLS error components approach in estimating the determinants of China's Intra-Industry Trade (IIT) in the capital goods sector with its 26 partner countries. It disaggregates IIT into horizontal IIT (HIIT) and vertical IIT (VIIT). Capital goods final products and intermediates are separately estimated in order to reveal the differentiated trade patterns. It finds that economic similarity is very significantly negatively correlated with the intermediates IIT, but to a less extent correlated with the final products IIT. Factor endowment is of no significance in determining IIT in the intermediates, although it is significantly positively correlated with the final products IIT. Economic size is significantly negatively correlated with both final products and intermediates IIT. Distance is not yet dead in impacting the level of final products IIT, but of less importance in influencing the intermediates IIT. China is exchanging intermediates in a less intraindustry manner with ASEAN nations. However, because VIIT is dominating TIIT, no significant differences exist between the estimation results of TIIT and VIIT.
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Can Fixed Exchange Rates Discipline Fiscal Policy?
Makram El-Shagi
CEGE Diskussionspapier Nr. 84,
2009
Abstract
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Monopolistic Competition and Costs in the Health Care Sector
Ingmar Kumpmann
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 17,
2009
Abstract
Competition among health insurers is widely considered to be a means of enhancing efficiency and containing costs in the health care system. In this paper, it is argued that this could be unsuccessful since health care providers hold a strong position on the market for health care services. Physicians exert a type of monopolistic power which can be described by Chamberlin’s model of monopolistic competition. If many health insurers compete with one another, they cannot counterbalance the strong bargaining position of the physicians. Thus, health care expenditure is higher, financing either extra profits for physicians or a higher number of them. In addition, health insurers do not have an incentive to contract selectively with health care providers as long as there are no price differences between physicians. A monopolistic health insurer is able to counterbalance the strong position of physicians and to achieve lower costs.
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Behold the 'Behemoth'. The privatization of Japan Post Bank
Uwe Vollmer, Diemo Dietrich, Ralf Bebenroth
Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration (RIEB), Kobe University, Discussion Paper Series No. 236,
2009
Abstract
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Arbeitsmarktpolitik und ihre Wirkung auf Bildung – Eine Untersuchung am Beispiel von Sozialhilfe und Kombilohnmodellen
Makram El-Shagi, Jürgen Schröder
Effizienz, Qualität und Nachhaltigkeit im Gesundheitswesen – Theorie und Politik öffentlichen Handelns, insbesondere in der Krankenversicherung – Festschrift zum 65. Geburtstag von Eberhard Wille,
2007
Abstract
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Cartel Identification in Spatial Markets: An Analysis of the East German Cement Market
Ulrich Blum
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
2009
Abstract
In 2003, the German cement industry was fined more than six hundred million Euros for, allegedly, having fixed prices and quantities in the four regional German cement markets. When this case was finally resolved by the courts in 2009, the fine was reduced by a large amount as the German Antitrust Commission (GAC) was unable to provide sufficient evidence on the level excessive pricing by the cartelists.
This paper takes up again the case of the East German cement cartel that ended in early 2002 and shows that the quota agreement which was established in the mid 1990s was economically inactive. From the perspective of the individual players, the rationale of preserving the cartel can only be explained by limited knowledge of the true market forces. Based on a spatial approach for the years 1997 to 2002, the regional price-setting behavior and its changes can be analyzed against the situation. Econometric analysis suggests that competition was already rather strong in the cartel years as transport costs and rebate systems were used to fine-tune offers. Strategic imports from post-communist countries into the East German market as well as supply from medium-sized enterprises not included in the cartel exerted pressure on the markets.
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Using multivariate statistical methods to identify municipality clusters
Dirk Trocka
Теоретические основы и опыт стратегическ,
2008
Abstract
The monthly calculation of the Consumer Price Index is based on a sample survey in different municipalities. This study intends to evaluate and improve the representativity of the municipalities within the sample in Saxony-Anhalt with respect to their number and type applying multivariate analysis. The analysis uses variables representing both demand and supply conditions in the municipalities that determine market outcomes. It also considers the importance of a municipality for the neighbouring area.
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Metformin-Therapie bei PCO-Syndrom - Positive Vierjahresbilanz des oralen Antidiabetikums
D. Albrecht, P. Kaltwasser, E. Rosenkranz, Dirk Trocka
MedReview,
2007
Abstract
The Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent endocrinal disease of women in child-bearing age. PCOS represents a high risk for infertility, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This article analyses the outcomes after four years of PCOS-treatment with Metformin, an orally administered medication. We describe under which circumstances Metformin treatment is useful.
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Evaluating the German (New Keynesian) Phillips Curve
Rolf Scheufele
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 10,
2008
Abstract
This paper evaluates the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) and its hybrid
variant within a limited information framework for Germany. The main interest rests on the average frequency of price re-optimization of firms. We use the labor income share as the driving variable and consider a source of real rigidity by allowing for a fixed firm-specific capital stock. A GMM estimation strategy is employed as well as an identification robust method that is based upon the Anderson-Rubin statistic. We find out that the German Phillips Curve is purely forward looking. Moreover, our point estimates are consistent with the view that firms re-optimize prices every two to three quarters. While these estimates seem plausible from an economic point of view, the uncertainties around these estimates are very large and also consistent with perfect nominal price rigidity where firms never re-optimize prices. This analysis also offers some explanations why previous results for the German NKPC based on GMM differ considerably. First, standard GMM results are very sensitive to the way how orthogonality conditions are formulated. Additionally, model misspecifications may be left undetected by conventional J tests. Taken together, this analysis points out
the need for identification robust methods to get reliable estimates for the NKPC.
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