Leistungen und Defizite der Wirtschaftspolitik in Ostdeutschland. Ein Bericht über die Tagung
Mirko Titze
Deutschlandarchiv. Zeitschrift für das vereinigte Deutschland,
No. 5,
2007
Abstract
More than ten years after the German reunification the eastern part of Germany is still less developed than the "former" Federal Republic of Germany. This article includes a report about the conference "Reconstruction East" which has taken place from 16-18 March 2007 in Tutzing. Many experts discussed failures and efforts after the German reunification. As a result, it was summarised that the process of German reunification is more successful than it seems to be. Yet, in some western German and European regions we can denote phenomena which are similar to the development in East Germany. Against this background we need a straightforward discussion about the relevant regions. This article deals, firstly, with the East German economy before and after the reunification. Secondly, convergence processes are described. Finally, we illustrate schemes of an improvement of the current situation.
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The role of banking portfolios in the transmission from the currency crises to banking crises - potential effects of Basel II
Tobias Knedlik, Johannes Ströbel
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 21,
2006
Abstract
This paper evaluates the potential effects of the Basel II accord on preventing the transmission from currency crises to financial crises. By analyzing the case study of South Korea, it shows how mismatches on banks’ balance sheets were the primary cause for such a transmission, and models how Basel II would have affected those balance sheets. The paper shows that due to South Korea’s positive credit rating in the months leading up to the crisis, the regulatory capital reserves under Basel II would have been even lower than those under Basel I, and that therefore Basel II would have had adverse effects on the development of the crisis. In the second part, the article analyses whether the behavior of rating agencies has changed since their failure to predict the Asian crisis. The paper finds no robust econometric evidence that rating agencies have started to take micromismatches into account when assigning sovereign ratings. Thus, given the current approach of credit rating agencies, we have reservations concerning the effectiveness of Basel II to prevent the transmission from currency crises to banking crises, both for the case of South Korea and for potential future crises.
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The Successes and Failures of Economic Transition
Hubert Gabrisch, Jens Hölscher
,
2006
Abstract
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The Economics of Restructuring the German Electricity Sector
Christian Growitsch, Felix Müsgens
Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft,
No. 3,
2005
Abstract
The debate about the development of German electricity prices after the liberalization of energy markets in 1998 raises the question of failures in market restructuring. However, a general statement would be misleading for two main reasons. Firstly, the price development, analyzed for the exemplary case of household prices, shows significant differences among the stages of the value chain. Secondly, the underlying cost structure might have changed from 1998 to 2004. While such effects can be expected to level out over time, they can distort the comparison of a small period of observation. For these reasons, we analyzed the different price components at a detailed level, finding a considerable price reduction of about 32% in generation and a much lower reduction of 13% in transmission and distribution tariffs. These decreases have been mostly compensated by a significant increase in taxes and subsidies (+56%).
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Non-market Allocation in Transport: A Reassessment of its Justification and the Challenge of Institutional Transition
Ulrich Blum
50 Years of Transport Research: Experiences Gained and Major Challenges Ahead,
2005
Abstract
Economic theory knows two systems of coordination: through public choice or through the market principle. If the market is chosen, then it may either be regulated, or it may be fully competitive (or be in between these two extremes). This paper first inquires into the reasons for regulation, it analyses the reasons for the important role of government in the transportation sector, especially in the procurement of infrastructure. Historical reasons are seen as important reasons for bureaucratic objections to deregulation. Fundamental economic concepts are forwarded that suggest market failure and justify a regulatory environment. The reasons for regulation cited above, however, may be challenged; we forward theoretical concepts from industrial organization theory and from institutional economics which suggest that competition is even possible on the level of infrastructure. The transition from a strongly regulated to a competitive environment poses problems that have given lieu to numerous failures in privatization and deregulation. Structural inertia plays an important role, and the incentive-compatible management of infrastructure is seen as the key element of any liberal transportation policy. It requires that the setting of rules on the meta level satisfies both local and global efficiency ends. We conclude that, in market economies, competition and regulation should not be substitutes but complements. General rules, an "ethic of competition" have to be set that guarantee a level playing field to agents; it is complimented by institutions that provide arbitration in case of misconduct.
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An analysis of household electricity price developments in Germany since liberalization
Christian Growitsch, Felix Müsgens
External Publications,
2005
Abstract
Despite the liberalization of energy markets in 1998, household electricity prices in 2004 are nearly the same as 1998, indicating a failure of market restructuring. However, such a general consideration is misleading for two main reasons. Firstly, the price development shows significant differences among the stages of the value chain. Secondly, the underlying cost structure might have changed from 1998 to 2004. While such effects can be expected to level out over time, they can distort the comparison of a small period of observation. For these reasons, we analyzed the different price components at a detailed level, finding a considerable price reduction of about 32% in generation and a much lower reduction of 13% in transmission and distribution tariffs. These decreases have been mostly compensated by a significant increase in taxes and subsidies (+56%).
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Corporatistic Alliances for Jobs in the
Andrea Besenthal
WSI-Mitteilungen,
No. 10,
2004
Abstract
In Germany exists a 40 year tradition of institutionalised and consensus orientated round tables. The following article considers the ´Concerted Action´ (1966-1977) and the ‘Alliance for Jobs´ (1998-2003) as examples and analyses - by setting several conditions for success - the reasons of their failure. The distribution of power and give-and-take between the social partners, the role of the state representatives as well as the application area and the organisational set-up of the instruments serve as aspects for the analysis. It can be demonstrated that the experiences with the ‘Concerted Action´ were taken into account regarding the ‘Alliance for Jobs´, that however important conditions for success still remained unaccomplished.
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Currency policy lessons from the failure of the Argentinean currency board
Diemo Dietrich, Axel Lindner
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 15,
2002
Abstract
Die Frage nach der richtigen geldpolitischen Strategie für Länder mit einer nur wenig gefestigten Währung ist nach wie vor offen. Der Wandel der wirtschaftspolitischen Empfehlungen wird wesentlich von Erkenntnissen aus neuen Fallbeispielen wirtschaftspolitischer Experimente bestimmt. Die Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrise von Argentinien bietet eine solche Chance zu lernen. Der Krisenausbruch war mit dem Scheitern des dortigen Currency board verknüpft, einer geldpolitischen Strategie, die in Osteuropa gegenwärtig von Bulgarien, Estland und Litauen verfolgt wird. Der Artikel analysiert anhand des Lehrstücks Argentinien die potenziellen Probleme dieser währungspolitischen Strategie und kommt zu Schlussfolgerungen, die auch für die genannten Länder Osteuropas von Bedeutung sind....
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Success and failure: Criteria for evaluating East Germany's economic development
Cornelia Lang, Rüdiger Pohl
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 106,
1999
Abstract
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