Datenkompendium -Ostdeutschlands Transformation seit 1990 im Spiegel wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Indikatoren, 2. akt. u. verbess. Aufl.
Ulrich Blum, Herbert S. Buscher, Hubert Gabrisch, Jutta Günther, Gerhard Heimpold, Cornelia Lang, Udo Ludwig, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld, Lutz Schneider
One-off Publications,
2010
Abstract
20 Jahre nach der „friedlichen Revolution“ und dem darauffolgenden Herstellen der staatlichen Einheit Deutschlands legt das IWH erneut eine Dokumentation der gesellschaftlichen, vor allen Dingen der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung vor. Ziel ist es, anhand von Zahlen, Schaubildern und Tabellen mit entsprechenden Erklärungen die Vielschichtigkeit des Wandels der Neuen Länder aufzuzeigen. Damit fällt auch die Bewertung differenziert aus: Es gibt eine weitgehend modernisierte Infrastruktur, das erste, was an „blühende Landschaften“ erinnern mag. Einige Unternehmen und Standorte konnten sich mit großem wirtschaftlichen Erfolg die Weltmarktführerschaft in wesentlichen Technologien sichern. Aber es gibt auch einen massiven Bevölkerungsverlust, sich entleerende Gebiete. Manche Städte und erhebliche Teile des ländlichen Raums suchen eine neue Aufgabe in der nationalen und internationalen Arbeitsteilung.
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Is East Germany Catching Up? A Time Series Perspective
Bernd Aumann, Rolf Scheufele
Post-Communist Economies,
2010
Abstract
This article assesses whether the economy of East Germany is catching up with the West German region in terms of welfare. While the primary measure for convergence and catching up is per capita output, we also look at other macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment rates, wage rates and production levels in the manufacturing sector. In contrast to existing studies of convergence between regions of the reunified Germany, our approach is based purely upon the time series dimension and is thus directly focused on the catching up process in East Germany as a region. Our testing set-up includes standard ADF unit root tests as well as unit root tests that endogenously allow for a break in the deterministic component of the process. We find evidence of catching up for East Germany for most of the indicators. However, the convergence speed is slow, and thus it can be expected that the catching up process will take further decades until the regional gap is closed.
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Challenges for Future Regional Policy in East Germany. Does East Germany really show Characteristics of Mezzogiorno?
Mirko Titze
A. Kuklinski; E. Malak-Petlicka; P. Zuber (eds), Souther Italy – Eastern Germany – Eastern Poland. The Triple Mezzogiorno? Ministry of Regional Development,
2010
Abstract
Despite extensive government support the gap between East and West Germany has still not been successfully closed nearly 20 years post German unification. Hence, some economists tend to compare East Germany with Mezzogiorno – underdeveloped Southern Italy. East Germany is still subject to sever structural problems in comparison to West Germany: lower per capita income, lower productivity, higher unemployment rates, fewer firm headquarters and fewer innovation activities. There are East German regions with less than desirable rates of development. Nevertheless, the new federal states have shown some evidence of a convergence process. Some regions have developed very positively – they have improved their competitiveness and employment levels. As such, the comparison of East Germany with Mezzogiorno does not seem applicable today.
According to Neoclassical Growth Theory, regional policy is targeted enhancing investment (hereafter the notion ‘investment policy’ is used). has been the most important instrument in forcing the ‘reconstruction of the East’. Overall, the investment policy is seen as having been successful. It is not, however, the only factor influencing regional development – political policy makers noted in the mid 1990s that research and development (R&D) activities and regional concentrated production networks, amongst other factors, may also play a part. The investment policy instrument has therefore been adjusted. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that investment policy may fail in particular cases because it contains potentially conflicting targets. A ‘better road’ for future regional policy may lie in the support of regional production and innovation networks – the so-called industrial clusters. These clusters would need to be exactingly identified however to ensure effective and efficient cluster policies.
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The Extreme Risk Problem for Monetary Policies of the Euro-Candidates
Hubert Gabrisch, Lucjan T. Orlowski
Abstract
We argue that monetary policies in euro-candidate countries should also aim at mitigating excessive instability of the key target and instrument variables of monetary policy during turbulent market periods. Our empirical tests show a significant degree of leptokurtosis, thus prevalence of tail-risks, in the conditional volatility series of such variables in the euro-candidate countries. Their central banks will be well-advised to use both standard and unorthodox (discretionary) tools of monetary policy to mitigate such extreme risks while steering their economies out of the crisis and through the euroconvergence process. Such policies provide flexibility that is not embedded in the Taylor-type instrument rules, or in the Maastricht convergence criteria.
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A New Metric for Banking Integration in Europe
Reint E. Gropp, A. K. Kashyap
Europe and the Euro,
2010
Abstract
Most observers have concluded that while money markets and government bond markets are rapidly integrating following the introduction of the common currency in the euro area, there is little evidence that a similar integration process is taking place for retail banking. Data on cross-border retail bank flows, cross-border bank mergers and the law of one price reveal no evidence of integration in retail banking. This paper shows that the previous tests of bank integration are weak in that they are not based on an equilibrium concept and are neither necessary nor sufficient statistics for bank integration. The paper proposes a new test of integration based on convergence in banks' profitability. The new test emphasises the role of an active market for corporate control and of competition in banking integration. European listed banks profitability appears to converge to a common level. There is weak evidence that competition eliminates high profits for these banks, and underperforming banks tend to show improved profitability. Unlisted European banks differ markedly. Their profits show no tendency to revert to a common target rate of profitability. Overall, the banking market in Europe appears far from being integrated. In contrast, in the U.S. both listed and unlisted commercial banks profits converge to the same target, and high profit banks see their profits driven down quickly.
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The Determinants of Bank Capital Structure
Reint E. Gropp, Florian Heider
Review of Finance,
No. 4,
2010
Abstract
The paper shows that mispriced deposit insurance and capital regulation were of second-order importance in determining the capital structure of large U.S. and European banks during 1991 to 2004. Instead, standard cross-sectional determinants of non-financial firms’ leverage carry over to banks, except for banks whose capital ratio is close to the regulatory minimum. Consistent with a reduced role of deposit insurance, we document a shift in banks’ liability structure away from deposits towards non-deposit liabilities. We find that unobserved time-invariant bank fixed-effects are ultimately the most important determinant of banks’ capital structures and that banks’ leverage converges to bank specific, time-invariant targets.
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Auch nach 20 Jahren: Steuereinnahmen in den Neuen Ländern schwach
Kristina vanDeuverden
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
20 Jahre Deutsche Einheit - Teil 2 -
2010
Abstract
20 years after unification in the eastern part of Germany tax revenue is still lagging behind economic convergence. Why are tax receipts still low? Which factors determine tax revenue? Is it the economic potential that determines the level of tax receipts? In which way does tax expenditure affect receipts? By a detailed analysis of single taxes these questions are answered.
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“Gleichwertigkeit der Lebensverhältnisse“ zwischen Politik und Marktmechanismus: Zusammenfassende Bewertung der Befunde und Schlussfolgerungen für regionale Entwicklungsstrategien
Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
M. T. W. Rosenfeld, D. Weiß (Hrsg.), Gleichwertigkeit der Lebensverhältnisse zwischen Politik und Marktmechanismus. Empirische Befunde aus den Ländern Sachsen. Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen,
2010
Abstract
The principle of „Interregional Equality“ enjoys general acceptance today in Germany. However, there is a great deal of discusssion and heated debate regarding the „correkt“ interpretation of this principle and the „correct“ means for achieving it. This ist the background against which the article is evaluating the evidence from existing empirical studies on different aspects of „Interregional Equality“. It is shown that, in Germany, there is much more euqality between the cities and regions than one would expect by only looking at indicators which are derived from the official statistics. Most impressive is the fact that in many cases, there are mechanisms, driven by the market forces, which are leading to an equalization between the wealthier cities and regions and the poorer ones.
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Do All Countries Grow Alike?
Claire Economidou, J. W. B. Bos, Michael Koetter, James W. Kolari
Journal of Development Economics,
No. 1,
2010
Abstract
This paper investigates the driving forces of output change in 77 countries during the period 1970–2000. A flexible modeling strategy is adopted that accounts for (i) the inefficient use of resources, and (ii) different production technologies across countries. The proposed model can identify technical, efficiency, and input change for each of three endogenously determined regimes. Membership in these regimes is estimated, rather than determined ex ante. This framework enables explorations into the determinants of output growth and convergence issues in each regime.
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