EU Eastern Enlargement and Structural Change: Specialization Patterns in Accession Countries and Economic Dynamics in the Single Market
Albrecht Kauffmann, P. J. J. Welfens, A. Jungmittag, C. Schumann
Diskussionsbeiträge des Europäischen Instituts für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW), Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Nr. 106,
No. 106,
2003
Abstract
This paper analyses key issues of structural change and specialization patterns in the economies of an enlarged European Union. In all transition countries we observe a shift from the agricultural and industrial sector towards the service sector in terms of employment and productivity; however, in some countries a reindustrialisation drives is observed in a late transition stage. While some countries namely the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia and Slovenia, have improved their productivity especially in medium-technology-intensive industries and may advance on the technological ladder, others remain unchanged and seem to get locked in labour-intensive industrial sectors. In the context of EU-enlargement, we expect trade creation – going along with a rise of intra-industry trade – and higher FDI-activities. Countries will have to adjust along the logic of comparative advantage, however, technological upgrading and human capital formation are fields in which government can stimulate the direction of comparative advantage. According to the Gerschenkron-hypothesis the accession countries have an “advantage of backwardness. Since accession countries have a low R&D-GDP ratio in the early transition stage rising government expenditures on research and development plus higher education is crucial. We expect the EU-15 countries in general to benefit from enlargement but gains will be asymmetric across countries: economic geography matters. Austria, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Italy and France are likely to profit more than the other members of EU-15. Germany and Austria additionally play a particularly crucial role as origins of FDI. Future research should focus on the speed and the scope of structural adjustment.
Read article
Macroeconomic Modelling of the German Economy in the Framework of Euroland
Rüdiger Pohl, Heinz P. Galler
Schriften des IWH,
No. 11,
2002
Abstract
An attempt to develop a new macroeconometric model for Germany is confronted with several questions that range from the general rationality of such an approach to specific problems of an appropriate model structure. One important aspect of this discussion is the introduction of the Euro as a common currency of the European monetary union. This institutional change may result in structural breaks due to changing behavior of economic agents. In addition, the definition of the spatial unit that is appropriate for modelling becomes a problem. Additional problems come from the introduction of the European Single Market and the increasing international economic integration not only within the European union but also beyond its borders. And in the case of Germany, the unification of the West and the East demand special attention. Last but not least, the harmonization of national accounting for the member states of the European Union has to be dealt with. Thus, the introduction of the Euro as a common currency is just one problem besides others that must be addressed.
Read article
Implications of the monetary union for macroeconomic models
Rüdiger Pohl, Heinz P. Hrsg. Galler
Schriften des IWH,
No. 8,
2001
Abstract
Mit der Einführung der Europäischen Währungsunion haben sich strukturelle und institutionelle Veränderungen ergeben, die bei der Evaluation wirtschaftspolitischer Maßnahmen auf der Basis makroökonometrischer Modelle in Rechnung gestellt werden müssen. So wird die Geldpolitik nur noch einheitlich für den Raum der Währungsunion durchgeführt und ist daher nicht länger Instrument der nationalen Wirtschaftspolitik. Dagegen dürfte die Lohnpolitik eine stärkere Rolle für die Entwicklung der Beschäf tigung einnehmen. Bei einer gegebenen Inflationsrate in der Währungsunion schlagen sich regionale Erhöhungen der Nominallöhne in gleichgerichteten Reallohnsteigerungen nieder. Sofern diese nicht durch die im Zeitpunkt der Lohnverhandlungen erwartete nationale Produktivitätsentwicklung gedeckt ist, ergeben sich unmittelbar Wettbe werbsnachteile für die inländischen Unternehmen, die nicht mehr über eine Änderung der Währungsparitäten kompensiert werden können.
Read article
Korean unification and banking system - An analysis in view of German experiences and Korean differences
Ralf Müller
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 139,
2001
Abstract
One of the reforms that have to be launched in a future unification process in Korea, which seems possible after the political negotiations last year, is the transformation of the North Korean banking system. The question arises whether Korea could profit from the German experience where banking transformation was one of the rather few success stories in unification. In 1990 the East German banking transformation was achieved relatively fast and uncomplicated due to considerable direct investments of the West German banks compounded with state guarantees for bad loans resulting from the credit business with existing GDR-corporations. Unfortunately, South Korea currently lacks some major prerequesites that contributed to the German banking unification, among them – and probably the most important one – is the lack of a sound and efficient banking
system that could become active in the North. Consequently, depending on the circumstances of a future Korean unification either a more gradual process is recommended or, if inner-Korean migration requires a more dynamic transition, considerable investment by foreign banks and assistance from international organisations is recommended.
Read article
Evaluationsbericht: Das Internet strategisch richtig nutzen
Albrecht Kauffmann, P. J. J. Welfens, M. Vogelsang
Diskussionsbeiträge des Europäischen Instituts für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW), Universität Potsdam, Nr. 79,
No. 79,
2001
Abstract
Using the internet and internetbased services is now common among medium and large firms in Germany. However, for smaller firms (SMEs) the use of internet application is a new challenge to which they still have to respond – this is crucial for remaining competitive. The project Adapt2 “Using the Internet in an adaquate and strategic way“ looks into the effects of SMEs' basic steps towards the internet. We focus on adequacy of government promotion of SME activities – specifically firms from the sector producing machinery and equipment are analysed. The project was led by ZENIT GmbH, Mülheim a.d. Ruhr; the whole project also involved participation of the European Institute for International Economic Relations (EIIW). As part of a broader evaluation EIIW also conducted surveys – both focussing on firms involved in the project and in other firms from the same sector. It turned out that specific measures of support indeed were helpful for SMEs; obviously, there is additional need for further practical support and research.
Read article
Beschäftigungseffekte alternativer Finanzierungsformen der sozialen Sicherung
Christian Dreger, Heinz P. Galler
External Publications,
2000
Abstract
Read article
Mittelständische Unternehmen und das Internet: Perspektiven in Deutschland
Albrecht Kauffmann, P. J. J. Welfens, J. Hollants
Diskussionsbeiträge des Europäischen Instituts für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW), Universität Potsdam, Nr. 74,
No. 74,
2000
Abstract
Read article
Input-Output-Analyse. Eine Einführung in Theorie und Anwendung
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch, P. Fleissner, W. Böhme, J. Höhne, J. Siassi, K. Stark
,
1993
Abstract
Read article