Kosten und Nutzen der Ausbildung an Tertiärbildungsinstitutionen im Vergleich
Martina Eschelbach, G. Heineck, Steffen Müller, Regina T. Riphahn
Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik,
No. 2,
2010
Abstract
We compare German institutions of tertiary education (universities and polytechnics) with respect to the cost of and the returns to their educational degrees. Based on cost data from two different sources we find that on average the expenditures of universities are lower than those of polytechnics when we consider expenditures per potential enrollee and per student enrolled during the regular education period. We apply data from the German Socio-economic Panel (2001–2007) to estimate the private returns to tertiary education and find higher returns to university than polytechnic training. These results are robust to a variety of alternative procedures.
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Business Networks in the Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz and Halle Regions: Do Member Firms Locate in Spatial Proximity?
Gerhard Heimpold
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2010
Abstract
The business landscape in East Germany mainly consists of small and medium-sized firms. This in mind, business networks may contribute to an improvement of the economic performance of firms which collaborate in business networks. For successful networking a mix of network members being locally concentrated on the one side and of partners from distant regions, especially from abroad, on the other side, is important. In regional economics, this duality is highlighted for two reasons: personal contacts of partners which are located in spatial proximity to each other may ease the transfer of tacit knowledge. The flow of tacit knowledge can be regarded as a factor which enhances innovation processes. However, the inclusion of partners from abroad is important, too. It facilitates access to the most advanced knowledge and technologies worldwide. The academic debate on networking regards a one-sided orientation on the local dimension of networking as risky due to possible lock-in effects. The empirical findings for 93 business networks existing in the regions of Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz and Halle, which are located in the southern part of East Germany, reveal a great proportion of network members concentrated locally: On average, this is the case with more than 50% of the network members. 10% of members are located in the other three city regions mentioned. More than one third of firms are located outside, in other German regions, of which around the half in the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. A minority of 2% is located abroad. However, for the transfer of externally existing knowledge other network members may be relevant, too. To illustrate: More than four fifths of the networks under investigation include public research units (universities etc.) which usually play an important role when it comes to an inter-regional and international knowledge transfer.
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What Determines the Innovative Success of Subsidized Collaborative R&D Projects? – Project-Level Evidence from Germany –
Michael Schwartz, François Peglow, Michael Fritsch, Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 7,
2010
published in: Technovation
Abstract
Systemic innovation theory emphasizes that innovations are the result of an interdependent exchange process between different organizations. This is reflected in the current paradigm in European innovation policy, which aims at the support of collaborative R&D and innovation projects bringing together science and industry. Building on a large data set using project-level evidence on 406 subsidized R&D cooperation projects, the present paper provides detailed insights on the relationship between the innovative success of R&D cooperation projects and project characteristics. Patent applications and publications are used as measures for direct outcomes of R&D projects. We also differentiate between academic-industry projects and pure inter-firm projects. Main results of negative binomial regressions are that large-firm involvement is positively related to pa-tent applications, but not to publications. Conversely, university involvement has positive effects on project outcomes in terms of publications but not in terms of patent applications. In general, projects’ funding is an important predictor of innovative success of R&D cooperation projects. No significant results are found for spatial proximity among cooperation partners and for the engagement of an applied research institute. Results are discussed with respect to the design of R&D cooperation support schemes.
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Die ostdeutschen Städte und speziell Leipzig im deutschen Städtesystem
Peter Franz
Stadt Leipzig (Hrsg.),
2010
Abstract
In the pre-World-War-II era many East German cities held prominent positions within the national German system of cities. 20 years after the German unification we can strike an interim balance concerning these cities’ process of repositioning. For this purpose the 13 largest East German cities – including Leipzig, but without Berlin - are compared with cities of similar size in three West German regions (South, North, Center represented by North-Rhine/Westphalia). The indicators chosen rely to the cities’ economic and fiscal conditions. The indicators paint a differentiated picture: The average income per capita is in the East German cities still lower as in the West German cities; and the unemployment rates are still above the West German level. With respect to future growth potential the East German cities show a relatively good endowment with public universities and research institutions. In spite of the diverse depicted economic problems still to be solved the East German cities over the years have shown impressive endurance in catching-up.
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The Spatial Clustering of the Photo-voltaic Industry in Berlin-Brandenburg
Steffen Ebert, Matthias Brachert, Iciar Dominguez Lacasa
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 11,
2009
Abstract
Recent empirical studies show a process of selective clustering in the photo-voltaic industry in East Germany. Especially locations like Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Freiberg/Dresden, Erfurt/Arnstadt and Berlin-Brandenburg were able to attract concentrations of economic activity in this industry. Regarding competition between the different locations for production and employment, emerging agglomeration economies can be seen as one major source increasing inter-regional competitiveness.
The aim of this article is to provide insights into the process of spatial clustering of photo-voltaic industry in Berlin-Brandenburg. With the help of a multi-dimensional cluster-concept developed by Bathelt, we analyse the region’s strengths and weaknesses regarding its generation of agglomeration economies.
The analysis shows that there are indeed first signs of agglomeration economies developing in the region. Despite a low level of horizontal cooperation, companies do profit from co-localisation by continuous observation of the local competitors. Along the value adding production chain, vertical co-operation is increasing, leading to positive effects by specialised suppliers and gains in transportation cost.
But the focal point in further industry development is the augmentation of the regional stock of knowledge. Regarding the increasing pressure on the companies’ innovativeness as a result of changes in market conditions in the photo-voltaic sector, only innovative and efficiently producing companies will be able to survive the industries’ consolidation period. Therefore, it is necessary to further support the increasing interconnectedness between university research, non-university research and local companies in order to profit from the high technological potential of the companies in the region.
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The Standing of the East German Cities within the German System of Cities: An Interim Review on the Basis of Economic Indicators 20 Years after the German Unification
Peter Franz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
20 Jahre Deutsche Einheit - Teil 1 -
2009
Abstract
The hopes of the East German citizens coupled with the unification in 1990 were not only directed to their personal fortune, but also concerned the amelioration of the living conditions in their cities. Twenty years after this date, we can strike an interim balance how far these hopes have been become true. For this purpose, the thirteen largest East German cities (without Berlin) are compared to cities of similar size in three West German regions (South, North, Center represented by North Rhine/Westphalia). The indicators chosen rely to the cities’ economic and fiscal conditions. The indicators paint a differentiated picture: The average income per capita in the East German cities is still lower than in the West German cities and unemployment rates are still above the West German level. With respect to future growth potential, the East German cities show a relatively good endowment with qualified human capital, with public universities and research institutions. In contrast to that, the small size of the firms and the small number of firm headquarters are unfavourable for a dynamic growth in the future. Another persistent difference between East and West is the low level of public revenues, which keeps the East German cities dependent on Federal grants. The city officials were successful in cutting payroll costs and reducing the number of civil servants. In spite of the diverse depicted economic problems still to be solved, the East German cities over the years have shown impressive endurance in catching-up.
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The Manufacturing Sector in East Germany on a Path from De-industrialization to Re-industrialization: Are there Economically Sustainable Structures?
Gerhard Heimpold
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
20 Jahre Deutsche Einheit - Teil 1 -
2009
Abstract
The contribution comprises an analysis how the manufacturing sector in East Germany has developed in the post-transition period after 1990. A set of economic performance indicators is used. The analysis shows a considerable growth of gross value added and productivity. However, the growth of productivity occurred at the expense of employment. On average, in 2008, the East German manufacturing sector reached 4/5th of the productivity level of the West German level. As far as the endowment with growth determinants is concerned, the manufacturing industry in the New German Länder has undertaken considerable efforts to modernize its fixed capital stock. The endowment with human capital measured by the proportion of employees possessing a university degree is as high as in the western part of Germany. However, the investigation reveals a number of deficits, too. Data on Research and Development (R&D) expenditures and R&D staff in the manufacturing sector reveal, on average, lower R&D activities in the East German manufacturing sector. This is resulting from specific structures of the East German manufacturing sector: dominance of small firms, lack of large firms possessing headquarters and conducting own R&D. Complementary, the share of technology-driven industries is lower, and the proportion of labor intensive industries is larger in comparison with the West German manufacturing sector. In addition, an investigation of functional structures of employment reveals a proportion of employment in production functions which is above the West German average, whereas the opposite is the case with the proportion of employment in service functions. For further strengthening the East German manufacturing sector, structural change toward technology-intensive and human capital-intensive economic activities has to be continued.
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The Identification of Technology Regimes in Banking: Implications for the Market Power-Fragility Nexus
Michael Koetter, Tigran Poghosyan
Journal of Banking and Finance,
No. 8,
2009
Abstract
Neglecting the existence of different technologies in banking can contaminate efficiency, market power, and other performance measures. By simultaneously estimating (i) technology regimes conditional on exogenous factors, (ii) efficiency conditional on risk management, and (iii) Lerner indices of German banks, we identify three distinct technology regimes: Public & Retail, Small & Specialized, and Universal & Relationship. System estimation at the regional level reveals that greater bank market power increases bank profitability but also fosters corporate defaults. Corporate defaults, in turn, lead to higher probabilities of bank distress, which supports the market power-fragility hypothesis.
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Knowledge City Berlin? Potenziale und Risiken einer Stadtentwicklungsstrategie mit dem Fokus Wissenschaft
Peter Franz
Das Wissen der Städte. Neue stadtregionale Wissensdynamiken im Kontext von Wissen, Milieus und Governance,
2009
Abstract
In this chapter the author applies his own „knowledge city“ approach (Franz 2007) to the German capital city of Berlin. After examining the quality profile of the universities located at Berlin the author analyses diverse strategic steps in support of a sharpened scientific profile having already been put into action by managers being responsible for science policy in Berlin.
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In which Ways do Universities React to New Technologies? The Case of Photovoltaics
Peter Franz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2008
Abstract
Universities can be conceived as actors in regional innovative systems with the functions to make available new knowledge for a region, to contribute to the human capital formation by teaching, and to the extension of the knowledge by research. These functions are in particular important concerning the adaptation of new technologies, e.g. photovoltaics. 89 German universities – amongst them 65 universities of applied sciences – meanwhile offer 171 full-time study courses with a degree oriented to photovoltaics. Each federal state has at least one university location offering such degrees. A certain spatial concentration of courses can be shown for Saxony, for the Ruhr Area and for the Rhine Main Region. Almost 90% of the degrees are offered by faculties of engineering. 43% of the universities with degrees in photovoltaics have successfully applied for research grants from the photovoltaics research programs of the federal government. These numbers show a spatial concentration of research in the South whereas the photovoltaics industry is concentrated in the East of Germany. This distribution indicates that the research opportunities tied to the photovoltaics industry are not in the Eastern part of Germany. Further research will have to pay more attention to the role of research institutes.
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