Microeconometric Evaluation of Selected ESF-funded ALMP-Programmes
Eva Reinowski, Birgit Schultz
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 17,
2006
Abstract
The study evaluates different ESF-funded labour market programmes by comparing the labour market status at different points in time after the treatment. In order to solve the selection problem we employ a standard matching algorithm with a multi-dimensional distance measure. The effects of the analyzed programmes (wage subsidies, start-up subsidies and qualification measures for recipients of social welfare) are very heterogeneous. It can be observed that the direct integration into the regular labour market provides an advantage for the supported individuals. Its lasting effects, however, strongly depend on the group of persons being supported, the type of treatment and the employers’ financial share.
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Institutional settings of social assistance: What is improved or unsolved by the
Joachim Wilde
Institutionen und Arbeitsmarkt: Messkonzepte, Wirkungszusammenhänge und internationaler Vergleich,
2006
Abstract
The last reform of benefits for long-term unemployed in Germany ("Hartz IV") did not reduce costs. Moreover, the number of recipients is much higher than it was expected before. Therefore, the institutional settings might be less effective than they could be. Initially, the paper describes the institutional changes by the "Hartz IV" reform. Afterwards, these changes are evaluated with respect to their effects on the number of recipients. The evaluation is based on the results of econometric studies concerning the former social assistance. It is pointed out that the reform improved basic conditions and incentives only partly, whereas some of its elements worsened the institutional settings.
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Gesamtwirtschaftliche Effekte der Förderung regenerativer Energien, insbesondere der Biomasse - Eine kritische Beurteilung vor dem Hintergrund modelltheoretischer Konzeptionen
Götz Zeddies
Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik und Umweltrecht 2/2006,
No. 2,
2006
Abstract
Renewable energies are largely promoted in the Federal Republic of Germany by means of political instruments by the federal government as well as by the federal states. However, the effects of promoting renewable energies on growth and employment are politically controversial. On the part of the scientists, the macroeconomic effects of the promotion of renewable energies were already analysed in different studies by various authors. At first sight, even the scientific results do not allow definite conclusions. The reasons for this may be seen in the diversity of the applied empirical methods and models with respect to their closeness and the model assumptions. Against the background of these difficulties, the aim of this paper is to discuss the general problems of macroeconomic policy analyses, to formulate methodical model requirements and to examine important existing scientific studies with respect to these requirements and to evaluate their results.
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Options and Limits of the Matching Approach – An Application to Workers Participation
Birgit Schultz
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 15,
2006
Abstract
The evaluation of economic effects of workers participation is not simple from the methodical point of view because of specific characteristics of establishments with works councils. Especially recent studies show contradictory results. In this study problems are pointed out, discussed, and options for solution are presented on the example of workers participation in East German establishments of industry and construction by the IABEstablishment Panel. An optimal matching-algorithm which supplies good matching-results for small samples to assign ‘statistical establishment-twins’ is applied. But by reason of very short primarily spells it can only calculate short time effects. Therefore, the matching method is additionally used to construct longer observation periods. By this new application establishments with recently founded works councils are matched with so called ‘proxy establishments’ with existing works councils. As a result short observation periods are prolonged and information about long-term effects can be given. The effects on productivity, profitability and qualification level of employees show neither in short-term nor in long-term a significant impact on workers’ participation.
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A method to evaluate peripheral retail locations considering as example the shopping area ‘Nova Eventis’
Alexander Kubis, Maria Hartmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2006
Abstract
Der Strukturwandel im Einzelhandelsbereich führt zur Entstehung peripherer großflächiger Einzelhandelszentren. Deren Genehmigungsfähigkeit bedingt die Notwendigkeit einer sachlichen Prüfung ökonomischer Auswirkungen potentieller (neuer) Standorte. Mit diesem Beitrag wird eine geeignete Methodik zur Beantwortung dieser Problematik vorgestellt. Das entsprechende Vorgehen, das auf einem probabilistischen Gravitationsmodell beruht, wird eingehend am Beispiel einer Analyse für den Standort Nova Eventis in der Region Halle-Leipzig illustriert. Die empirische Basis stellen 1. eine Erhebung der Einzugsbereiche mittels „Licence Plate Analysis“ (PKW-Erhebung), 2. die einzelhandelsrelevanten Kaufkraft (GfK), 3. eine Distanzmatrix zwischen Kauf- und Wohnorten sowie 4. Angaben der Verkaufsfläche und absoluten Besucherzahl der einzelnen peripheren Einkaufszentren der Region dar. Aus der Analyse wird deutlich, daß die Lage (Distanz vom Kunden) und Größe (Verkaufsfläche) entscheidende Determinanten für die Einkaufswahrscheinlichkeit sind. Unter den gesetzten Annahmen kann ein Kaufkraftabfluß von rund 250 Mio. Euro p. a. aus den umliegenden Landkeisen nach Nova Eventis bestimmt werden. Mit der im Beitrag vorgestellten allgemeinen Methode wird die Möglichkeit eröffnet, ökonomische Auswirkungen der Ansiedlung peripherer Einzelhandelsstätten hinsichtlich der Verlagerung von Kaufkraftflüssen zu prognostizieren. Ausgehend von der Analyse der Kaufkraftströme der bereits bestehenden Einzelhandelsstätten wird auf die Auswirkungen des potentiellen Standortes geschlossen. Damit stellt das hier vom IWH vorgestellte Instrumentarium eine praktikable Entscheidungshilfe sowohl für die Genehmigungsbehörde als auch für das sich ansiedelnde Unternehmen dar.
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Longterm development of return on assets – an empirical panel data analysis
Olaf Neubert
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2006
Abstract
One of the basic propositions of economic theory is the fact that competition does not allow permanent very high or very low returns. But how can the permanent surplus gain of a monopolist be distinguished from innovation gains? In which markets is a regulatory interference necessary? Contrary to the static analysis, the concept of dynamic competition explicitly considers the temporal development of return and gain. An entrepreneur can achieve an advantage over the competitors through new products or new production processes. Hence arising innovation gains function as incentives for imitators to join the development which in turn leads to a reduction of the surplus gains. Thus, these gains are not contradictory to an effective competition. On the basis of annual balance sheets of German firms, this article analyses the temporal development of returns on assets. It is to evaluate whether the adaptation process assumed by Schumpeter that matches very high and very low gains with a longterm level can be confirmed, and how fast this process works. The average industry returns of the manufacturing industry show a convergence to a longterm level. During this process, an average of 40% of the deviation from the longterm level are melted every year. However, the analysis of company returns shows longterm differences. The adaptation rate of companies, 50%, is significantly higher compared to the industry value. The analysis of the connection between the adaptation rate and the longterm return level of companies proves that companies which face above-average competition strength obtain a higher longterm return level than other companies. When firms operate within markets with high stress of competition they do not achieve below-average returns but rather significantly above-average returns in the long term.
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Forced to Freedom? Empirical Relations between Aid and Economic Freedom
Tobias Knedlik, Franz Kronthaler
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 8,
2006
Abstract
The paper explores the relationships between economic freedom on the one side and development aid and IMF credit as approximation for conditional aid on the other side. After a short review of current literature on the issue of economic development, economic freedom, aid, and IMF credit, the paper develops a simple panel regression model to evaluate the relationship between “economic freedom” as dependent variable and “aid” and “IMF credit” as independent variables. The estimation is based upon data taken from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and the Heritage Index of Economic Freedom. In contrast to previous research, our results allow the rejection of the hypothesis that IMF credit increases economic freedom and that aid is not contributing to economic freedom. The estimation results suggest that, firstly, aid is positively correlated with economic freedom, and secondly, that IMF credit is negatively correlated with economic freedom. Taking IMF credit as proxy for conditional aid, we conclude that for the period of observation it could not be shown that countries can be forced to economic freedom by aid conditions.
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Hartz IV: not enough learned from welfare
Joachim Wilde
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2006
Abstract
The so-called “Hartz IV reform“ should improve the system of services and benefits for the long-term unemployed in Germany. Thus, it was expected that the number of recipients and the volume of expenditures will decrease. However, both are higher than before. Therefore, the institutional settings might be less effective than they could be. Initially, the paper describes the institutional changes by the “Hartz IV“ reform. Afterwards, these changes are evaluated with respect to their effects on the number of recipients. The evaluation is based on the results of econometric studies concerning the former social assistance. It is pointed out that the reform improved basic conditions and incentives only partly, whereas some of its elements worsened the institutional settings.
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The coalition treaty from a fiscal point of view
Kristina vanDeuverden
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2005
Abstract
After weeks of negotiations the coalition finally agreed on the conditions for their political work. Not surprisingly, the coalition agreement is complex and intransparent – with a multitude of single measures far away from a precise definition. Quantifying the programme and estimating resulting cash flows is currently difficult; official calculations are – if at all – only partly available. Anyhow, the contract will form the basis for economic policy during the next four years; therefore its evaluation by now is indispensable. The thin red line of the agreement – not astonishingly when considering the precarious financial situation of the public sector – is consolidation. However, more than 80% of the consolidation volume results from the revenue side. Though one third of this is due to the cutback of tax exemptions, the lion’s share comes from raising tax rates, mainly the VAT standard rate. In contrast, cutting back public expenditure is minor and the agreement clearly comes short of the Koch/Steinbrück proposal; even new tax reliefs are created. The consolidation is almost completely borne by private households. Enterprises as a whole are barely hit. However, they have to wait until 2008 for a reform of company taxation – one of the most pressing problems in this legislative period. To reduce the companies tax burden until the reform starts the conditions for tax depreciation are temporarily relaxed. Anyway, from an international point of view the statutory tax rate is an important signal to enterprises deciding where to invest. Lowering effective tax rates by changing depreciation conditions is intransparent and, thus, will be less effective. Furthermore savings within the public sector are planned to accomplish consolidation; 10 billion Euro should result from efficiency gains and reduced expenditure. Consolidation measures mainly focus on the budget of the federal government. However, Länder and communities will participate in the additional tax revenues. In contrast, social securities will loose – and therefore also the share of employment that is subject to social insurance contribution. Particularly the unemployment insurance will be burdened by the decrease of its premium rate. Besides, the federal government will reduce its grants to the pension funds and most notably the health system. The contract is dominated by fiscal constraints. Cyclical requirements are considered only cursory and pressing structural reforms are put off. The reforms of company’s taxation, of fiscal federalism, of the health system as well as a proceeding reform of the labour market are only proposed. How and when measures in these fields are realised will determine whether fiscal policy can set a new course.
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Evaluation of Further Training Programmes with an Optimal Matching Algorithm
Eva Reinowski, Birgit Schultz, Jürgen Wiemers
Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics,
2005
Abstract
This paper evaluates the effects of further training on the unemployment duration of different groups of persons representing individual characteristics and some aspects of the economic environment. The Micro Census Saxony enables us to include the employment history as a proxy for unobserved variables and to avoid Ashenfelters Dip. We employ an optimal full matching assignment, which is superior to greedy pair matching in the sense that it avoids the loss of observations due to the design of the algorithm. Overall, we find empirical evidence that participation in further training programmes results in even longer unemployment, with only gradual differences.
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