Knowledge Spill-overs for Knowledge-based Development: Progression in Theory and Obstacles for Empirical Research
Peter Franz
International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development,
2010
Abstract
As scientists and policymakers tend to interpret changes in the economy as a trend towards an increasingly knowledge-based economy, their recommendations and strategies for regional economic development frequently contain elements how to intensify the knowledge flows in the region concerned. Knowledge flows come into existence from intentional action, but also in an unintended way as externalities or knowledge spillovers. This paper reviews the ways regional and urban economics has dealt with the concept of knowledge spillovers. Knowledge spillovers are defined within a conceptual framework that points out different uses of knowledge in economics. The concept’s operationalisations in diverse empirical studies are systematised and discussed. After a critical review of the current state of research, policy strategies aiming to intensify knowledge spillovers are classified. The paper concludes with an outlook on promising new approaches to research knowledge spillovers and on the elaboration of more efficient policy strategies.
Read article
The German Upswing Takes a Break
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
2. Sonderausgabe
2007
Abstract
The world economy continues to expand healthily, but risks have increased during summer. The crisis of the housing sector in the US has deepened: A revaluation of mortgage backed assets has triggered turbulences on global financial markets. The institutes expect that financial markets will calm down during the coming months, but that the downswing in the US will slow the pace of the world economy. The economy in the euro area will, in addition, be dampened by the appreciation of the euro. The German economy is, in spite of a restrictive fiscal policy, in a robust upswing. Because wage setting and inflation continues to be moderate, there will be no need for a restrictive monetary policy. Thus the German economy will, due to slower demand from the US and higher costs of financing, lose momentum, but chances are good that the upswing will only take a break. In the coming year private consumption is expected to be the main contributor to growth, because wage incomes will expand strongly. Unemployment will continue to shrink, albeit at a smaller rate than during 2007. Fiscal policy will no longer be restrictive. Economic policy has improved the conditions for growth in Germany; there is, however, still much to do. Public finances have to be consolidated further, but at the same time, public investment has to be strengthened. This can be achieved if public consumptive expenditure growth is limited. The institutes suggest to increase public expenditure by 2% per annum over the cycle in nominal terms; this is, by less than by the trend growth rate of nominal GDP.
The institutes advise against a reversal of the recent labour market reforms. Instead, incentives for taking up jobs should be increased further.
Read article
Demographic development and its economic consequences
Joachim Ragnitz, Lutz Schneider
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2007
Abstract
Within the next decades, East Germany will continue to face strong demographic challenges. In addition to shrinking, the ageing of population and labour force will more and more affect the economic development of the new Länder. Against this background, the question rises whether the shift of workforce age structure will influence growth and innovation potential as well as structural change. The IWH recently has focused on this topic widely ignored by the research literature so far. On the basis of selected methods and data, the economic impact of workforce ageing was empirically evaluated. The first issue concerns the impact of age on productivity. Based on two separate empirical investigations, the conclusion can be drawn that above a certain stage, age diminishes productivity. But higher levels of experience might partly compensate for this reduction. Secondly, the innovation effects of ageing have been analyzed. Again, significant age effects arise. Employees at the age of about 40 years turn out to be the most innovative part of the workforce. Furthermore, the analysis shows that engineers are particularly subject to age effects. A third study sheds light on the challenging consequences of ageing on entrepreneurship potential. Hence, independently of the increasing problem of skill shortages, ageing itself will unfavourably affect growth, innovation and structural change. Though political options are limited due to the more or less fixed demographic trends, appropriate instruments regarding economic, family and education policy might lower the identified age effects.
Read article
Ageing in East Germany: Remarkable reduction of entrepreneurship
Lutz Schneider, Stefan Eichler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
2007
Abstract
Population shrinking and ageing are obvious trends in many German regions, but in the Eastern states they reach an unique level. An often ignored economic implication of these demographic deve-lopments is the reduction of the entrepreneurial potential. Shirking, on the one hand, diminishes the quantity of potential entrepreneurs, on the other hand these effects are strengthened by ageing trends, since people usually decide in younger years to found an enterprise. The analysis tries to quantify the impact of demographic change on entrepreneurship activities in east Germany until 2020. At the first stage on the basis of the Mikrozensus survey age specific shares of new entrepreneurs are calculated. In order to obtain a status-quo-forecast of new entrepreneurs at the second stage these quotas are combined with the population projections for the East Germany. As expected the propensity to set up a new business is highest for persons at the age form 25 to 39 years. Due to the strong reduction of this age group the number of new firm foundations will fall by approximately 25% until 2020.Whereas the decline in Berlin will be relatively small (14%), Brandenburg has to bear an alarming reduction of 32%.In contrast the West German states show only a reduction of 6% during the same period, which emphasizes the extraordinary dimension of demographic change in East Germany.
Read article
Population ageing and new entrepreneurship activities in East Germany
Stefan Eichler, Lutz Schneider
Wirtschaftspolitik und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung: Analysen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ostdeutscher Regionen,
2007
Abstract
Population shrinking and ageing are obvious trends in many German regions, but in the Eastern states they reach an unique level. An often ignored economic implication of these demographic developments is the reduction of the entrepreneurial potential. Shirking, on the one hand, diminishes the quantity of potential entrepreneurs, on the other hand these effects are strengthened by ageing trends, since people usually decide in younger years to found an enterprise. The analysis tries to quantify the impact of demographic change on entrepreneurship activities in east Germany until 2020.
Read article
Economic convergence across German regions in light of empirical findings
Udo Ludwig, John B. Hall
Cambridge Journal of Economics,
2006
Abstract
This paper challenges the convergence hypothesis advanced by R. Barro and X. Sala-i-Martin as it is applied to explain the forces behind, patterns exhibited by and time line for German regional convergence. Exposed in some detail are the spurious neoclassical and marginalist assumptions, purporting that 'automatic' forces would indeed bring about a convergence in per capita incomes between two German regions. A trend exhibiting slow growth in per capita income in Germany's eastern region renders a Beta coefficient so low as to rule out convergence altogether. In addition, capital fails to move between German regions in the pattern assumed by the convergence hypothesis.
Read article
Recent trends: Germany after the boom year 2000: Riven economic cycle - riven investment behavior
Brigitte Loose, Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2005
Abstract
Die wirtschaftliche Aktivität wird in Deutschland seit 2001 vorrangig vom Export gestützt, von der Inlandsnachfrage jedoch gebremst. Innerhalb der Inlandsnachfrage legen allerdings die Ausrüstungsinvestitionen, die eine Schlüsselstellung bei der Übertragung konjunktureller Impulse einnehmen, seit Ende 2003 wieder zu. Die beobachtete Entwicklung nährt die Vermutung, daß auch die Investitionsentscheidungen zwischen Exporteuren und Nichtexporteuren auseinander klaffen. Diese Aussage kann jedoch nicht anhand der Angaben aus den Volkswirtschaftlichen Gesamtrechnungen getestet werden, da in den Aggregaten der Zusammenhang zu den betrieblichen Akteuren verschwindet.
Read article
Is co-determination economically reasonable? East German manufacturing and construction as examples
Birgit Schultz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2005
Abstract
In the public discussion there are controversial argumentations how works worker’s participation in form of work council in questions of office politics and economic interests. Theoretical publications of this topic show mainly positive effects for staff and management. Therefore we analyse the effects of work council for chances in employment. In establishments with a positive result situation at the status quo and a work council we found a positive trend on employment and the future result. Compared to primarily prosperous establishments without staff association downgrade their result situation. In case of negative result situation establishments with a work council have no greater problems to reduce the employment than establishments without a work council.
Read article
Current Trends: IWH barometer for economic activity - East German economy finds it difficult to gather momentum
Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2004
Abstract
In den ersten sechs Monaten dieses Jahres hat Ostdeutschland mit der konjunkturellen Entwicklung im Westen und im Ausland nicht mithalten können. Die Bruttowertschöpfung im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe ist zwar erneut gestiegen, das Wachstumstempo hat sich aber gegenüber dem zweiten Halbjahr 2003 verlangsamt. Die wirtschaftliche Belebung im nationalen und internationalen Umfeld hat direkt und über die Lieferbeziehungen zu Abnehmern in den alten Bundesländern nur einen Teil der ostdeutschen Industrie erfasst und hier vor allem die Hersteller von Vorleistungsgütern. Investitions- und Konsumgüterproduzenten haben dagegen die Schwäche der Inlandsnachfrage zu spüren bekommen.
Read article
