Disentangling Barriers to Internationalization
C. Arndt, Claudia M. Buch, A. Mattes
Canadian Journal of Economics,
No. 1,
2012
Abstract
Recent literature on multinational firms has focused on low productivity as a barrier to the internationalization of firms. But labour market frictions or financial constraints may also hamper internationalization. In order to assess the importance of these barriers, we present new empirical evidence on the extensive and intensive margin of exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) based on micro-level data of German firms. First, we find a positive impact of firm size and productivity on firms’ international activities. Second, labour market frictions can constitute barriers to foreign activities. Third, self-reported financial constraints have no impact on firms’ internationalization decisions.
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Competitiveness Research Network – First Year Results
Filippo di Mauro
CompNet Report,
June
2013
Abstract
This interim report summarises the main findings of the Competitiveness Research Network (CompNet) after one year of existence. The Network is organized in three workstreams related to: (i) aggregate measures of competitiveness; (ii) firm-level studies; and (iii) global value chains (GVCs). The main objectives of the Network are to improve the existing frameworks and indicators of competitiveness across all dimensions (macro, micro and cross-border) and establish a more solid connection between identified competitiveness drivers and resulting outcomes (trade, aggregate productivity, employment, growth and essentially welfare), in order to support the design of adequate policies.
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R&D Offshoring and the Productivity Growth of European Regions
Davide Castellani, F. Pieri
CIRCLE Working Papers, No. 20,
No. 20,
2013
Abstract
The recent increase in R&D offshoring have raised fears that knowledge and competitiveness in advanced countries may be at risk of 'hollowing out'. At the same time, economic research has stressed that this process is also likely to allow some reverse technology transfer and foster growth at home. This paper addresses this issue by investigating the extent to which R&D offshoring is associated with productivity dynamics of European regions. We find that offshoring regions have higher productivity growth, but this positive effect fades down with the number of investment projects carried out abroad. A large and positive correlation emerge between the extent of R&D offshoring and the home region productivity growth, supporting the idea that carrying out R&D abroad strengthen European competitiveness.
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Big Banks and Macroeconomic Outcomes: Theory and Cross-Country Evidence of Granularity
Franziska Bremus, Claudia M. Buch, K. Russ, Monika Schnitzer
NBER Working Paper No. 19093,
2013
Abstract
Does the mere presence of big banks affect macroeconomic outcomes? In this paper, we develop a theory of granularity (Gabaix, 2011) for the banking sector, introducing Bertrand competition and heterogeneous banks charging variable markups. Using this framework, we show conditions under which idiosyncratic shocks to bank lending can generate aggregate fluctuations in the credit supply when the banking sector is highly concentrated. We empirically assess the relevance of these granular effects in banking using a linked micro-macro dataset of more than 80 countries for the years 1995-2009. The banking sector for many countries is indeed granular, as the right tail of the bank size distribution follows a power law. We then demonstrate granular effects in the banking sector on macroeconomic outcomes. The presence of big banks measured by high market concentration is associated with a positive and significant relationship between bank-level credit growth and aggregate growth of credit or gross domestic product.
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Skill Content of Intra-european Trade Flows
Götz Zeddies
European Journal of Comparative Economics,
No. 1,
2013
Abstract
In recent decades, the international division of labor has expanded rapidly in the wake of European integration. In this context, especially Western European high-wage countries should have specialized on (human-)capital intensively manufactured goods and should have increasingly sourced labor-intensively manufactured goods, especially parts and components, from Eastern European low wage countries. Since this should be beneficial for the high-skilled and harmful to the lower-qualified workforce in high-wage countries, the opening up of Eastern Europe is often considered as a vital reason for increasing unemployment of the lower-qualified in Western Europe. This paper addresses this issue by analyzing the skill content of Western European countries’ bilateral trade using input-output techniques in order to evaluate possible effects of international trade on labor demand. Thereby, differences in factor inputs and production technologies have been considered, allowing for vertical product differentiation. In this case, skill content of bilateral exports and imports partially differs substantially, especially in bilateral trade between Western and Eastern European countries. According to the results, East-West trade should be harmful particularly to the medium-skilled in Western European countries.
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German Economy Recovering – Long-Term Approach Needed to Economic Policy: Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2013
Dienstleistungsauftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie,
2013
Abstract
An upwards tendency re-emerged in the German economy in spring 2013. The situation in the financial markets has eased thanks to subsiding uncertainty regarding the future of the European Monetary Union. The headwind in the world economy has also tailed off somewhat. The institutes expect gross domestic product in Germany to increase by 0.8% this year (68%-projection interval: 0.1% to 1.5%) and by 1.9% next year. The number of unemployed should continue to fall to an annual average of 2.9 million this year and 2.7 million in 2014. The inflation rate is expected to drop to 1.7% this year and edge up to 2.0% next year on the back of rising capacity utilisation. The public budget will be almost balanced in 2013 and should show a surplus of 0.5% in relation to gross domestic product in 2014 thanks to more favourable economic conditions. It is now time to readopt a longer-term approach to economic policy. Although structural adjustment processes implemented in the crisis-afflicted countries have started to deal with institutional problems in the euro area, they are far from resolved. The German public budget also faces massive long-term burdens related to demographic factors.
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Towards a Theory of Climate Innovation - A Model Framework for Analyzing Drivers and Determinants
Wilfried Ehrenfeld
Journal of Evolutionary Economics,
2013
Abstract
In this article, we describe the results of a multiple case study on the indirect corporate innovation impact of climate change in the Central German chemical industry. We investigate the demands imposed on enterprises in this context as well as the sources, outcomes and determining factors in the innovative process at the corporate level. We argue that climate change drives corporate innovations through various channels. A main finding is that rising energy prices were a key driver for incremental energy efficiency innovations in the enterprises’ production processes. For product innovation, customer requests were a main driver, though often these requests are not directly related to climate issues. The introduction or extension of environmental and energy management systems as well as the certification of these are the most common forms of organizational innovations. For marketing purposes, the topic of climate change was hardly utilized so far. As the most important determinants for corporate climate innovations, corporate structure and flexibility of the product portfolio, political asymmetry regarding environmental regulation and governmental funding were identified.
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Eignung von Frühindikatoren für die Prognose des Produktionszuwachses in der Welt und in der Gruppe der Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländer
Katja Drechsel, Sebastian Giesen, Oliver Holtemöller, Axel Lindner
IWH Online,
No. 2,
2013
Abstract
Das Gutachten untersucht, ob die IWF-Prognosen für den Zuwachs des Bruttoinlandsprodukts in der Welt und in der Gruppe der Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländer mithilfe von gängigen Frühindikatoren verbessert werden können. Dabei zeigt sich, dass die Prognosegüte der IWF-Prognosen mit abnehmendem Prognosehorizont deutlich besser wird. Vor allem erweist sich, dass die Nutzung von Frühindikatoren, die in höherer Frequenz veröffentlicht werden als die IWF-Prognosen, insbesondere in den ersten Monaten eines Jahres die Prognosegüte für das laufende Jahr deutlich erhöht. Prognosen mit Frühindikatoren schneiden aber verglichen mit den IWF-Prognosen auch für die Prognose des Folgejahres teilweise gut ab.
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Related Variety, Unrelated Variety and Regional Functions: A spatial panel approach
Matthias Brachert, Alexander Kubis, Mirko Titze
Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography,
2013
Abstract
The paper presents estimates for the impact of related variety, unrelated variety and the functions a region performs in the production process on regional employment growth in Germany. We argue that regions benefit from the existence of related activities that facilitate economic development. Thereby the sole reliance of the related and unrelated variety concept on standard industrial classifications (SIC) remains debatable. We offer estimations for establishing that conceptual progress can be made when the focus of analysis goes beyond solely considering industries. We develop an industry-function based approach of related and unrelated variety and test our hypothesis by the help of spatial panel approach. Our findings suggest that related variety as same as unrelated variety facilitate regional employment growth in Germany. However, the drivers behind these effects do differ. While the positive effect of related variety is driven by high degrees of relatedness in the regional “R&D” and “White-Collar”-functions, the effects of unrelated variety are spurred by “Blue Collar”-functions in this period.
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Konjunkturelle Flaute zum Jahresende 2012 – aber auch Anzeichen für eine mäßige Brise im neuen Jahr
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2013
Abstract
In diesem Artikel wird die Konjunkturprognose des IWH vom 13. Dezember 2012 zusammenfassend dargestellt.
Das IWH ist im Dezember für das Jahr 2012 von einer Zunahme des Bruttoinlandsproduktes in Deutschland von 0,8% ausgegangen. Aktuellere Daten des Statistischen Bundesamtes weisen eine Zunahme um 0,7% aus. Das vierte Quartal 2012 dürfte somit geringfügig schwächer ausgefallen sein als in der Prognose vom Dezember unterstellt. Die Prognose für die Jahre 2013 und 2014 bleibt davon jedoch unberührt. Nach konjunktureller Flaute zum Jahresende 2012 dürfte die Weltwirtschaft im Jahr 2013 wieder frischen Wind in den Segeln verspüren. Ein kräftiger Aufschwung bleibt jedoch aus. Die Konsolidierungsnotwendigkeiten in vielen fortgeschrittenen Volkswirtschaften wirken weiter belastend. Auch die deutsche Wirtschaft wird im Schlussquartal des Jahres 2012 schrumpfen, dann aber wieder Fahrt aufnehmen. Das Bruttoinlandsprodukt legt im Jahr 2013 um 0,7% zu und im Jahr 2014 um 1,5%. Dabei wird die Arbeitslosenquote geringfügig auf 6,7% steigen. Die Verbraucherpreisinflation wird in den Jahren 2013 und 2014 in etwa bei 2% liegen. Der staatliche Finanzierungssaldo wird im Jahr 2013 wieder negativ.
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