Innovation co-operations in East and West Germany: Surprising differences
Jutta Günther
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2003
Abstract
This paper investigates the cooperation behavior of East German enterprises in the field of joint innovation projects. The question to be answered is whether and in how far cooperating enterprises are characterized by a stronger innovation activity and higher productivity compared to non-cooperating firms. The empirical study is based on a representative innovation survey, the Mannheim Innovation Panel (MIP). It shows - against all expectations - that East German firms are more often involved in innovation cooperation than West Germany firms. Differences with respect to the cooperation partners reflect the given structural differences between East and West Germany. Both in East and West Germany cooperating enterprises are more innovative than non-cooperating enterprises, but a productivity advantage of cooperating firms appears only in West Germany. In East Germany, non-cooperating enterprises show a slightly higher productivity than cooperating firms. Reasons for these surprising results are to be discussed in this paper.
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The home market - precondition for export business of East German industrial enterprises
Brigitte Loose, Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2003
Abstract
This article deals with the presence of East German manufacturers in foreign product markets. The following questions are discussed: Which factories sell their products abroad? What influences the export activities? Hypotheses are built on the basis of different trade theories, such as the relative position of the enterprises in their home market, the cumulation of learning effects in production and sales, the saturation of the domestic market and others. Individual data sets from industrial surveys for 1995 and 2000 are used to reveal the relationship between the company’s technical as well as institutional characteristics and their participation in export activities. Bivariate and multivariate approaches are applied. Additionally, a sample of enterprises has been asked to assess their export activities.
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Innovation cooperation in East Germany - only a half-way success?
Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 170,
2003
Abstract
The paper focuses on the question whether enterprises that engage in innovation cooperation with external partners are more innovative and thus more productive than non-cooperating firms. A comparison between East and West Germany is being made. It shows that cooperating enterprises in East and West Germany are indeed more innovative than non-cooperating firms, but there remains a clear productivity gap between East and West German cooperating firms. Furthermore, in East Germany - different from West Germany - non-cooperating firms are even more productive than cooperating firms.
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Der Exportsektor im ostdeutschen Verarbeitenden Gewerbe und seine Bedeutung für das betriebliche Wachstum - eine Auswertung von Mikrodaten der amtlichen Statistik und einer IWH-Industrieumfrage -
Brigitte Loose, Udo Ludwig
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 169,
2003
Abstract
This paper deals with the presence of East German manufacturers in foreign product markets. The following questions are discussed: Which factories sell their products abroad? What influences the export activities? Hypotheses are built on the basis of different trade theories, such as the relative position of the enterprises in their home market, the cumulation of learning effects in production and sales, the saturation of the domestic market and others. Individual data sets from industrial surveys for 1995 and 2000 are used to reveal the relationship between the company’s technical as well as institutional characteristics and their participation in export activities. Bivariate and multivariate approaches are applied. Additionally, a sample of enterprises has been asked to assess their export activities.
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FDI as Multiplier of Modern Technology in Hungarian Industry
Jutta Günther
Intereconomics,
No. 5,
2002
Abstract
Foreign direct investment is generally expected to play a significant role as a multiplier of modern production and management know-how in Central Eastern European transition economies. The following paper examines the various mechanisms by which such technological spillover effects could in theory take place and compares them with the results of an empirical study of their practical significance for Hungarian industry.
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IWH-Industry Survey at the start of 2002: Cautious confidence in East German industry despite economic downturn
Bärbel Laschke
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2002
Abstract
The cyclical downturn in the German economy in the year 2001 braked also the turnover of the East German industry. The increase was with 6,5 % clearly under the result of the previous year. Therefor the profitability of the enterprises continued to improve not. It could be stabilized however on the achieved level. The turnover plans of the enterprises for 2002 are reserved. Nevertheless 60% of the enterprises will increase their turnover. Also the job plans are optimistic and the job supply will slightly grow.
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Network activities and the productivity gap in East Germany: The role of agglomeration advantages
Anita Wölfl, Joachim Ragnitz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 13,
2001
Abstract
The article presents first some theoretical considerations about the connection between productivity and networking activities of enterprises. By operationalizing networks as an agglomeration of firms in a specific region, it is argued with respect to the East German economy that such networks have not yet developped in a sufficiently matter. Additionally, a “critical“ degree of agglomeration, from which networking activities lead to higher productivity, is missing in nearly all East German regions.
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Charity engagement of german savings banks: extent and regional effects
Martin Wengler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2001
Abstract
The german savings banks spent in in the year 2000 about 542 Mio. DM for charity projects. These funds influence the soft location factors in a positiv way and support the decrease of social disparities in economic peripheral regions.
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Innovative and international – with local personnel: Results of a survey of New Economy enterprises in Saxony and Thuringia
Cornelia Lang, Ralf Müller
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2001
Abstract
BT and IT firms in Saxony and Thuringia were surveyed about their recruiting activities, the scope of their product markets and their R&D activities. The major findings are: The majority of firms engage in product and process development, their product markets are not predominantly local markets, and that they recruit their labor force in the local labor market. The latter fact is explained by the existence of the modern infrastructure in higher learning and research in the new Länder (which formerly constituted the GDR). Consequently the firms are optimistic to be also able to attract highly qualified personnel in the future.The recently enacted law, which grants a number of work permits for highly qualified jobs (green card) is therefore of no great significance to these firms.
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East German industrial enterprises take an optimistic start into 2001
Bärbel Laschke, Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2001
Abstract
The turnover of the East German industry rose at a high rate in the year 2000. The proportion of the enterprises which suffer losses decreased to 20 % .The enterprises will offer more jobs in the year 2001.
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