European Commission, Leibniz Association and IWH Discuss Innovation Related Policy in Transitions Regions
Björn Jindra, Katja Wilde
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 7,
2009
Abstract
On February 17, 2009, the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) and the Leibniz Association (WGL) held the final conference of the EU-project “Understanding the Relationship between Knowledge and Competitiveness in the Enlarging European Union” (U-know) in Brussels. The research dealt with systemic aspects of innovation and knowledge transfer as well as the development of R&D (research and development) and innovation related policy. Thereby, a particular emphasis was put on the challenges facing the new EU member states and East Germany. The research project proved to be very productive with 54 research papers in refereed journals as well as 33 articles in edited volumes.
The aim of the conference was to present and discuss the main results of the U-know project with experts from the industry as well as the political and scientific community. Within four parallel sessions (Enterprises and markets, Public science and industry links, Systems and governance, Role of institutions), research output was presented. Representatives of the EU Commission commented directly on the presentations with a view on policy implications. In a final panel, all participants underlined the increasing importance of education, R&D, and innovation related policy to support the competitiveness of the EU-15 countries as well as the catching-up process of the new EU member states. The conference has raised significant interest both within the scientific community and the EU Commission.
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Will There Be a Shortage of Skilled Labor? An East German Perspective to 2015
Herbert S. Buscher, Eva Dettmann, Marco Sunder, Dirk Trocka
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 13,
2009
Abstract
We analyze the supply and demand of skilled labor in an East German federal state, Thuringia. This state has been facing high unemployment in the course of economic transformation and experiences population ageing and shrinking more rapidly than most West European regions. In a first step, we use extrapolation techniques to forecast labor supply and demand for the period 2009-2015, disaggregated by type of qualification. The analysis does not corroborate the notion of an imminent skilled-labor shortage but provides hints for a tightening labor market for skilled workers. In the second step, we ask firms about their appraisal of future recruitment conditions, and both current and planned strategies in the context of personnel management. The majority of firms plan to expand further education efforts and hire older workers. The study closes with policy recommendations to prevent occupational mismatch.
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Wie werden Städte zu Zentren der Kreativität und Innovation? Ein Bericht über das „2nd Halle Forum on Urban Economic Growth“ am IWH
Peter Franz, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld, Annette Illy
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2009
Abstract
Die Abteilung Stadtökonomik des IWH veranstaltete am 27. und 28. November 2008 das zweite Halle Forum on Urban Economic Growth. Die Forumsvorträge sowie die in das Programm eingebettete Podiumsdiskussion beschäftigten sich mit
der Frage, welche strategischen Handlungsmöglichkeiten Städten offenstehen, um sich als Zentren der Kreativität und Innovation entwickeln zu können. Diese Frage stellt sich insbesondere Städten in Transformationsökonomien, die durch einen er-
heblichen Strukturwandel gekennzeichnet sind und die nach Chancen für einen wirtschaftlichen Neuanfang Ausschau halten. Die Vorträge und Diskussionsbeiträge behandelten die allgemeine Bedeutung lokaler Kontextbedingungen für Kreativität, die Wissensvermittlung und verschiedene Ansätze, die entsprechenden Kontextbedingungen gezielt zu
gestalten. Neben Hinweisen zu praktikablen Handlungsstrategien für Städte mit Wissenschaftseinrichtungen lieferte das Forum ebenso die Erkenntnis, dass in mehrerlei Hinsicht noch weiterer Forschungsbedarf besteht. Insbesondere ist bislang ungenügend geklärt, über welche Wirkungskanäle Wissens-
Spillovers zwischen Wissenschaft und lokaler Wirtschaft verlaufen. Daneben muss die – auch im Verlauf der Tagung mehrfach erhobene – Forderung nach einer stärkeren Passung der Fächerstruktur der Wissenschaftseinrichtungen mit der Branchenstruktur der Wirtschaft in der Region noch durch weitere empirische Forschung auf ihre Angemessenheit hin überprüft werden. Darüber hinaus ist unklar, wie weit die unternehmerische Orientierung von Hochschulen getrieben werden kann, wie z. B. bei der wirtschaftlichen Verwertung der in ihren Mauern entwickelten Patente, ohne dass sich das Hochschulpersonal Identitätsproblemen und Konflikten mit den Werten des Wissenschaftssystems gegenübersieht.
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Possible Ways for Developing a Media City: Chances for Newcomer Cities are rather Limited!
Christoph Hornych, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld, Michael Schwartz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2009
Abstract
Numerous cities try to set up themselves as centres of creative businesses, especially for media industry. Behind such strategies for supporting the local media economy stands the aim to profit from the high share of supra-regional sales in the media economy, from possible image effects as well as – especially in Germany – from the backflow of taxes for public broadcasting. Against this background, the article examines the efficiency of possible instruments for local decision makers to improve the location conditions for the media industry. An analysis of the location preferences of the media industry shows that localization economies as well as urbanization economies have a high importance. Economic measures to generate or strengthen these effects are the attraction of public broadcasting stations, the assignment of subsidies for local film and media producers, the endowment with science facilities and educational institutions which are relevant for media, the establishment of business incubators specialized on media industry, and the development of inter-firm networks and special city districts for the local media industry. Our analysis shows that most of these instruments have only limited impacts. In particular, cities without public broadcasting stations and without educational institutions relevant for the branch probably will not have the chance to become media cities.
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Investment (FDI) Policy for Azerbaijan, Final report
Jutta Günther, Björn Jindra
One-off Publications,
No. 4,
2009
Abstract
The report has been prepared on behalf of the Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) as integral part of the “Private Sector Development Program” run by the GTZ in Azerbaijan. A comprehensive investment policy is outlined with particular focus on the possibilities to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in Azerbaijan’s manufacturing industry (non-oil sector). The report makes particular reference to the experiences with investment policy development in Central and East European transition economies. It touches legal and institutional framework conditions in Azerbaijan as well as possible investment incentives schemes including investment promotion. Major recommendations refer to trade integration within the region, introduction of tax incentives as well as further improvements in business climate. Furthermore, the importance of complementary policies, such as competition and education policy, is stressed.
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A Professor Like Me: The Influence of Instructor Gender on College Achievement
Florian Hoffmann, Philip Oreopoulos
Journal of Human Resources,
No. 2,
2009
Abstract
Many wonder whether teacher gender plays an important role in higher education by influencing student achievement and subject interest. The data used in this paper help identify average effects from male and female college students assigned to male or female teachers. We find instructor gender plays only a minor role in determining college student achievement. Nevertheless, the small effects provide evidence that gender role models matter to some college students. A same-sex instructor increases average grade performance by at most 5 percent of its standard deviation and decreases the likelihood of dropping a class by 1.2 percentage points.
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Yes to Investments by Public Authorities for the Future! But Business Cycle will no Longer be Saved by it!
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch, Brigitte Loose, Udo Ludwig
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2009
Abstract
In order to mitigate the effects of the deep economic recession, the German federal government has adopted two economic stimulus packages to be applied in the period from 2009 to 2010. According to our estimations, these programs include investments amounting to 25.3 billion Euros mainly in infrastructure and education. We investigate the total effects of these investments on production and employment using a static input-output model. We find that the gross domestic product will increase by at most one percentage point, namely 0.4 points in 2009 and 0.7 points in 2010. This implies that approximately 400 000 jobs will be safeguarded. About one quarter of the effects will concern construction and business services respectively. For several reasons, our calculations constitute the upper bound to the expected effects. The increasing demand in construction could lead to significantly increasing prices. In light of the expected decline in production, the economic effects of the programs may appear to be low. Obviously, the strong decrease in external demand and its impact on the economy cannot be effectively combated by instruments of national economic policies.
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Entwicklung des Fachkräftebedarfs in Thüringen – Fortschreibung Jahr 2008
Herbert S. Buscher, Eva Reinowski, Christian Schmeißer, Marco Sunder, Dirk Trocka
Thüringer Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Arbeit,
2009
Abstract
Im Rahmen einer vom Thüringer Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Arbeit in Auftrag gegebenen Studie analysiert das IWH die Situation am Arbeitsmarkt für Fachkräfte in Thüringen. Dabei wird die Entwicklung des Fachkräftebedarfs in den einzelnen Berufsgruppen bis ins Jahr 2015 prognostiziert. Demnach werden im betrachteten Zeitraum rund 80 000 Fachkräfte benötigt, um altersbedingt aus dem Erwerbsleben ausscheidende Beschäftigte zu ersetzen bzw. einen durch den Strukturwandel bedingten zusätzlichen Bedarf zu decken. Zur Deckung dieser Nachfrage steht ein ausreichend großes Potenzial an Arbeitskräften zur Verfügung, das bisher allerdings nur teilweise erschlossen wurde. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden Handlungsempfehlungen zur Deckung der zu erwartenden Nachfrage abgeleitet. Des Weiteren beinhaltet die Studie Auswertungen einer im Sommer 2008 vom IWH durchgeführten Befragung von Personalverantwortlichen in rund 1 000 thüringischen Unternehmen zur bisherigen und künftigen Personalpolitik. Schwerpunkte bilden dabei Fragen nach den Strategien der Unternehmen zur Deckung ihrer Fachkräftebedarfe sowie Einschätzungen der Personalverantwortlichen zu möglichen Handlungsoptionen in der Bildungs-, Arbeitsmarkt- und Wirtschaftspolitik.
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Are there Gender-specific Preferences for Location Factors? A Grouped Conditional Logit-model of Interregional Migration Flows in Germany
Lutz Schneider, Alexander Kubis
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 5,
2009
Abstract
The article analyses the question whether women and men differ in their tastes for location factors. The question is answered by quantifying the impact of location characteristics on interregional migration flows across Germany. The analysis is based on a grouped conditional logit approach. We augment the framework by controlling for violation of the independence of irrelevant alternatives assumption and for overdispersion. As a result, we find no differences in terms of direction of impact. However, the regressions confirm gender differences in terms of intensity, particularly regarding regional wage levels and the availability of educational institutions.
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Professor Qualities and Student Achievement
Florian Hoffmann, Philip Oreopoulos
Review of Economics and Statistics,
No. 1,
2009
Abstract
This paper analyzes the importance of teacher quality at the college level. Instructors are matched to objective and subjective characteristics of teacher quality to estimate the impact of rank, salary, and perceived effectiveness on student performance and subject interest. Student and course fixed effects, time of day and week controls, and students' lack of knowledge about first-year instructors help minimize selection biases. Subjective teacher evaluations perform well in measuring instructor influences on students, while objective characteristics such as rank and salary do not. Overall, the importance of college instructor differences is small, but important outliers exist.
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