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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German Economic Growth in 2008: Temporary Slow Down
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2008
Abstract
World economic growth has slowed in the first months of 2008. The main causes are the crisis in the US housing sector and the turmoil in the financial sector in general, the spreading expectation of a recession in the US, and sharply rising prices for energy and food. The German economy, though, is still expanding healthily, with strong investment and export activities. Private consumption, however, shrank at the end of 2007. In 2008, while favorable labor market conditions will improve job security and thus the propensity to consume, real incomes will not rise by much due to the risen inflation rate; consumption will again expand only modestly this year. A slower expansion of the world economy and the stronger euro will dampen exports and investment. All in all, growth will slow to (working-day adjusted) 1.2% in 2008. Chances are good that in the next year, after the negative shocks have faded out a bit, growth will be accelerating again. The East German Economy was on a lower growth path in 2006 and 2007 than the economy in the West, according to recently revised national accounts data. Industrial production, however, is more dynamic in the East. Unemployment rates will continue to decrease faster in the East: as in the rest of Germany, employment is growing, and, contrary to what happens in the West, the labor force is shrinking.
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Can Art Finance itself?
Sören Eisenbeiß, Niels Krap, Tobias Glufke
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2008
Abstract
Until 2003, public savings in the art sector have been immense. But lately there has been a tendency of increasing public expenditures in this field. Nevertheless one has to ask if these allowances are required to sustain artistic and cultural life.
If, however, art cannot be financed by the contributions of their consumers, the question arises whether and to which extend the government should pay for it. In spring 2007, we realized a survey in cooperation with the “neue theater“ in Halle and the “Anhaltisches Theater Dessau“. Among other subjects, we asked the audience to evaluate the current ticket prices. As a result, we analyzed how these theatres could adjust their ticket prices in order to reduce the need of public subsidies. The conclusion of this survey is that the visitors are reacting rather weakly to moderate price increases. So it can be stated that the theatres could in fact boost their revenues by appropriately raising their ticket prices. Unfortunately, the resulting extra revenue is not sufficient to finance the performing arts without the help of public subsidies.
Finally, an additional argument for subsidizing art is that not only the customers benefit from it, but also the society as a whole because of so-called positive external effects.
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Poland: Strong Domestic Demand Will Drive Economic Activity
Martina Kämpfe
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2007
Abstract
Domestic demand was the main force behind growth in 2007. The high level of both, gross fixed investments of firms and private consumption, led to extended industrial production capacities and increased demand of imports. Extraordinarily high was the demand for the output of construction firms. Rising employment and wages and the continuing expansion of loans to the household sector supported the private consumption growth. The high levels of capacity utilization coincide with shortages of labour. First responses to this were wage hikes, which pushed the unit labour costs and led to some increase in consumer price inflation. In 2008, expansion of economic activity will continue at only some lower level, driven by investments and consumption.
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Network Access Charges, Vertical Integration, and Property Rights Structure
Christian Growitsch, Thomas Wein
Energy Economics,
No. 2,
2005
Abstract
After the deregulation of the German electricity markets in 1998, the German government opted for a regulatory regime called negotiated third party access, which would be subject to ex post control by the federal cartel office. Network access charges for new competitors are based on contractual arrangements between energy producers and industrial consumers. As the electricity networks are incontestable natural monopolies, the local and regional network operators are able to set (monopolistic) charges at their own discretion, limited only by their concerns over possible interference by the federal cartel office (Bundeskartellamt). In this paper we analyse if there is evidence for varying charging behaviour depending on a supplier`s economic independence (structure of property rights) or its level of vertical integration. For this purpose we hypothesise that incorporated and vertically integrated suppliers set different charges than independent utility companies. Multivariate estimations show a relation between network access charges and the network operator’s economic independence as well as level of vertical integration. On the low voltage level, for an estimated annual consumption of 1700 kW/h, vertically integrated firms set – as predicted by our hypothesis - significantly lower access charges than vertically separated suppliers, whereas incorporated network operators charge significantly higher charges compared to independent suppliers. There is insufficient evidence available to confirm these results for other consumptions or voltage levels.
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The influence of Vertical Integration and Property Rights on Network Access Charges in the German Electricity Markets
Christian Growitsch, Thomas Wein
External Publications,
No. 6,
2004
Abstract
German Electricity markets were deregulated in the late nineties of the last century. In contrast to other European countries, the German government enacted negotiated third party access instead of installing a regulation authority. Network access charges for new competitors are based on contractual arrangements between energy producers and industrial consumers, which specify the calculation schemes for access charges. Local and regional suppliers are nevertheless able to set (monopolistic) charges at their own discretion, restricted only by the possibility of interference competition authorities. While some of those suppliers have been acquired by one of the four Transmission System Operators and become vertically integrated, the majority is still independent public utility companies. In this paper we analyse if there is evidence for different charging behaviour depending on the supplier’s economic independence or its level of vertical integration. Controlling for other coefficients as the so called structural features and related cost differences as well as the influence of competition law suits, multivariate estimations show significantly lower access charges than vertically separated suppliers, whereas incorporated network operators charge significantly higher charges compared to independent suppliers for at least one typical case.
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Price Competition between an Expert and a Non-Expert
Jan Bouckaert, Hans Degryse
International Journal of Industrial Organization,
No. 6,
2000
Abstract
This paper characterizes price competition between an expert and a non-expert. In contrast with the expert, the non-expert's repair technology is not always successful. Consumers visit the expert after experiencing an unsuccessful match at the non-expert. This re-entry affects the behavior of both sellers. For low enough probability of successful repair at the non-expert, all consumers first visit the non-expert, and a 'timid-pricing' equilibrium results. If the non-expert's repair technology performs well enough, it pays for some consumers to disregard the non-expert a visit. They directly go to the expert's shop, and an 'aggressive-pricing' equilibrium pops up. For intermediate values of the non-expert's successful repair a 'mixed-pricing' equilibrium emerges where the expert randomizes over the monopoly price and some lower price.
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Current trends – Price advantages for East German consumers
Ruth Grunert
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
1997
Abstract
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Electricity producers and consumers in the area of conflict generated by high prices and starting market liberalization
Martin Weisheimer
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 8,
1997
Abstract
Hohe Strompreise stimulieren Eigenerzeugungen, davon profitieren auch die Stromverbraucher. Anhand von Beispielen wird gezeigt, dass sich diese Tendenz in Ostdeutschland besonders äußert. Die Marktliberalisierung übt bereits jetzt einen Druck auf die Strompreise und ihre Bereitstellungskosten aus.
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Consumer prices in East and West German cities – An indicator of adjusting living conditions
Peter Franz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
1995
Abstract
In den ostdeutschen Städten lagen die Verbraucherpreise Ende 1993 6 % unter denen in westdeutschen Städten. Während handelbare Güter mit nicht administrierten preisen in Ost und West bereits ein relativ einheitliches Preisniveau aufweisen, sind bei lokal hergestellten Gütern mit administrativer Preisfestsetzung größere Preissprünge zwiwchen einzelnen Städten zu verzeichnen.
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