Industries in east Germany: regional clusters
Franz Kronthaler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2004
Abstract
The study examines the spatial distribution of business activities in East Germany and exhibit in which industries the East German regions are specialised. The findings of the investigation show that in East Germany numerous industries are spatially concentrated and that the most important locations of industries and enterpise services concentrate on Berlin and on regions in Saxonia. The locations usually tie at the traditional structures or at specific potentials of the regions.
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Demography and Consumption Structure in Germany
Harald Lehmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2004
Abstract
The impacts of demographic changes on the consumption structure of private households are of high overall economic relevance. The qualitative composition of consumption entails to a high degree a certain branch structure and hence influences labor demand. The underlying projection shows that aging and shrinking of the german population have only minor effects on the consumption structure other than changes in income growth and distribution. Above all the expenditures for health will double but from a relative low level.
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Business Cycle Volatility in Germany
Claudia M. Buch, J. Doepke, C. Pierdzioch
German Economic Review,
2004
Abstract
Stylized facts suggest that output volatility in OECD countries has declined in recent years. The causes and the nature of this decline have so far been analyzed mainly for the United States. In this paper, we analyze whether structural changes in output volatility in Germany can be detected. We report evidence that output volatility has declined in Germany. It is difficult to answer the question whether this decline in output volatility reflects good economic and monetary policy or merely ‘good luck’.
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The effects of demographic changes on the level and structure of private consumption - a forecast for Germany until 2050 -
Harald Lehmann
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 195,
2004
Abstract
This thesis analyzes the impact of different demografic scenarios on level and composition of private consumption in Germany. The analysis is based on the current household budget survey (Einkommens- und Verbrauchsstichprobe 1998) whose datas are adapted to the concepts of national accounting. Therefore households have to be defined by demografic aspects to investigate their consumption behavior. In the next step this will be used to forecast the effects of an aging population on private consumption by utilize a shift share analysis. The results lay open that the demografic impact is minor compared to economic factors influencing the composition of private consumption. This holds also in regard to the development of the absolute level of private consumption.
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East German tourist industry - a branch with growth potential
Siegfried Beer
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2004
Abstract
Since 1990 capital stock in East German accommodation industry has been remarkably extended and modernized. With about half a million beds in 2003, the number of available guest beds has doubled since 1992. Although tourism intensity (overnight stays per 1000 inhabitants) has also grown considerably in the same period – namely onto a 2.5 times higher level than in 1992 – the percentage of taken beds is, except in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, not yet satisfying. An important task is therefore to improve the basically good opportunities even more in order to animate the economic growth and to create new jobs. Suitable economic settings need to be formed for this.
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Growth in biotechnology industry has come to a halt - is the industry still the great white hope?
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 11,
2004
Abstract
With the modern biotechnology a new industry has appeared worldwide. In Germany, the boom of the foundation of new companies started about 1996/1997. Meanwhile the growth of the biotechnology sector has come to a hold. The biotechnology industry experiences a phase of the consolidation. This paper shows that due to consolidation a core of successful companies will develop, which continue to grow and can support the development of the new industry. Also economically less advanced regions have a chance in the modern biotechnology.
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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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The economic situation and development in the German regions along the border with Poland
Gerhard Heimpold
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
No. 1,
2004
Abstract
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The economic structure of the largest East German cities: economic differences increase
Cordula Winkler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2004
Abstract
Especially large cities come into appearance within the field of interregional competition, while trying to attract enterprises and mobile production factors. Against this background, the paper examines the economic stage of development of the largest East German cities. In addition to the actual situation we have a look at the development of cities since the middle of the 90ies. Relating to the actual economic situation, the findings show great economic differences between cities. Nevertheless, none of the large cities have taken on a leading position for all considered indicators. Instead of this each large city has its own specific strengths and weaknesses – compared with the other large cities as well as compared with East Germany on the whole. In addition, a comparison with the situation in 1995 shows, that the degree of differentiation between cities has increased. This development goes along with a strengthening of specific economic profiles, particularly in smaller large cities.
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Diversifikation und regionale Wirtschafts- und Beschäftigungsentwicklung - Eine empirische Analyse für ausgewählte deutsche Gebiete
Peter Haug
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
No. 2,
2004
Abstract
This article analyses the effects of heterogeneous economic structures on the long-term development of regional employment. A simple model is introduced to illustrate the beneficial outcomes for households as well as for enterprises of locating in highly diversified municipalities because risk (volatility of income, recruitment costs in a broader sense) diminishes for both. Econometric results for a sample of municipalities in Lower Saxony provide some evidence for a positive effect of local economic diversification on employment opportunities. The results seem to be not confined to the aggregated local labour demand but also apply to most branches the local business sector.
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