Growth, Employment, Poverty Alleviation and Institutional Development – Lessons from Country Cases – An Introduction
Tobias Knedlik, Karl Wohlmuth
African Development Perspectives Yearbook, No. 14,
2009
Abstract
Economic growth is a central concept in judging the progress of economic development. Since the early years of economic sciences, economists aim to explain the differences in the production of goods and services among economies. Economic policy focuses on economic growth as the basis for the well-being of nations. The simple idea is that the extension of the productive capacity and finally the increase of consumption possibilities in an economy is the basis of all policies aiming to increase a nation’s welfare. It is therefore not surprising that aims of development policy are often linked to specific economic growth targets. So the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals are assumed only to be achieved if a certain level of economic growth can be reached.
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Book Review on Michael Grimm, Stephan Klasen, Andrew McKay (eds.) (2007): Determinants of Pro-poor Growth - Analytical Issues and Findings from Country Cases
Tobias Knedlik
African Development Perspectives Yearbook, No. 14,
2009
Abstract
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Book Review on Lukas Menkhoff (ed.) (2006): Pro-poor Growth: Policy and Evidence
Tobias Knedlik
African Development Perspectives Yearbook, No. 14,
2009
Abstract
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Openness and Growth: The Long Shadow of the Berlin Wall
Claudia M. Buch, Farid Toubal
Journal of Macroeconomics,
No. 3,
2009
Abstract
The question whether international openness causes higher domestic growth has been subject to intense discussions in the empirical growth literature. This paper addresses the issue in the context of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. We analyze whether the slow convergence in per capita incomes between East and West Germany and the lower international openness of East Germany are linked. We address the endogeneity of openness by adapting the methodology proposed by Frankel and Romer (1999) to a panel framework. We instrument openness with time-invariant exogenous geographic variables and time-varying exogenous policy variables. We also distinguish the impact of different channels of integration. Our paper has three main findings. First, geographic variables have a significant impact on regional openness. Second, controlling for geography, East German states are less integrated into international markets along all dimensions of integration considered. Third, the degree of openness for trade has a positive impact on regional income per capita.
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Industrielle Cluster als Ursache regionaler Prosperität? Zur Konvergenz deutscher Arbeitsmarktregionen 1996-2005
Alexander Kubis, Matthias Brachert, Mirko Titze
Raumforschung und Raumordnung,
/6
2009
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of industrial clusters on regional growth at level of Germany’s functionally defined labour market regions (AMR) within a regional convergence model. It focuses especially on the role of the co-location of vertically connected industrial sectors. Based on works of Schnabl (2000) it is possible to identify three different effects of industrial clusters on regional economic performance. Beside the effect of regionally concentrated economic sectors (horizontal clusters) and value adding chains (vertical clusters) on the region itself, we are able to control for regional spillover effects of industrial clusters. Further the study allows the isolated examination of the impact of industrial cluster while taking regional convergence into consideration. It is possible to demonstrate positive growth effects of industrial clusters along with an overall process of convergence as same as with a specific eastern one. Therefore industrial cluster present an opportunity to explain deficits within the process of East-West-Convergence. Their relative absence of industrial clusters in Eastern Germany influences the growth potential in a negative way.
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Die Identifikation horizontaler und vertikaler industrieller Clusterstrukturen in Deutschland – Ein neues Verfahren und erste empirische Ergebnisse
Mirko Titze, Matthias Brachert, Alexander Kubis
Raumforschung und Raumordnung,
/6
2009
Abstract
. If regional development agencies assume the cluster concept to be an adequate framework to promote regional growth and competitiveness, it is necessary to identify industrial clusters in a comprehensive manner. Previous studies used a diversity of methods starting with specific regional case studies, input-output methods and different concentration measures. This article presents a new instrument in empirical cluster research – the Qualitative Input-Output Analysis –, which offers the possibility to identify industrial cluster in conjunction with concentration measures. Especially, this method allows the combination of an identified critical mass of regional firms with the necessity of interaction of these firms within an input-output framework. Applying this method to Germany’s “Arbeitsmarktregionen” we find that 103 “Arbeitsmarkregionen“ show first signs of horizontal industrial clusters, while only 28 regions are able to attract vertical industrial clusters. 139 “Arbeitsmarktregionen” did not show signs of industrial clusters according to the research design.
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Wachstum, Stagnation oder Schrumpfung? Entwicklungsdynamik ehemaliger TGZ-Unternehmen
Michael Schwartz
Statistik Regional Electronic Papers, 2009-01,
2009
Abstract
Wirtschaftspolitische Entscheidungsträger weltweit setzen große Hoffnungen in Technologie- und Gründerzentren als effektive Förderinstrumente auf regionaler und lokaler Ebene zur Unterstützung junger, innovativer Unternehmen. Oftmals wird hierbei unterstellt, dass die Wachstumsphase der geförderten Jungunternehmen erst mit dem erfolgreichen Auszug zum Tragen kommt. Ob dies allerdings tatsächlich der Fall ist, ist bislang kaum empirisch belegt. Das vorliegende Papier versucht zur Verminderung dieses Kenntnisdefizites beizutragen. Es wird detailliert die langfristige Entwicklung von 324 ausgezogenen Unternehmen auf fünf deutschen Technologie- und Gründerzentren untersucht. Um Verzerrungen durch bereits aus dem Markt ausgeschiedene Unternehmen zu vermeiden (Survivor Bias), schließt die Analyse auch die Entwicklung dieser Unternehmen ein. Dies ist im vorliegenden Forschungskontext erstmalig möglich. Als Indikatoren der Unternehmensentwicklung werden Beschäftigungs- und Umsatzgrößen herangezogen. Die empirischen Ergebnisse weisen ein teilweise sehr starkes Wachstum der geförderten Unternehmen nach – allerdings weitgehend beschränkt auf den eigentlichen Förderzeitraum. Entgegen der oben genannten Annahme kann in der vorliegenden Studie nicht bestätigt werden, dass die ehemals geförderten Unternehmen nach dem Verlassen der Technologie- und Gründerzentren nachhaltig stark wachsen. Nach dem Auszug bleibt das Wachstum der überwiegenden Mehrheit der Unternehmen moderat. Nur ein kleiner Anteil ehemaliger Zentrums-Unternehmen kann starke Wachstumsraten nach beendeter Förderung vorweisen. Ein größerer Teil der Unternehmen stagniert oder schrumpft sogar. Im Durchschnitt befinden sich die ausgezogenen Unternehmen ab einem Zeitraum von acht bis zehn Jahren auf einem zum Auszug vergleichbaren Entwicklungsstand bzw. sogar auf einem niedrigeren Niveau.
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Entwicklung des Fachkräftebedarfs in Thüringen bis 2015
Herbert S. Buscher, Eva Dettmann, Christian Schmeißer, Dirk Trocka, Marco Sunder
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 2,
2009
Abstract
On behalf of the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Technology, and Labor, the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) has conducted a survey of current labor market conditions in Thuringia. We forecast changes in labor demand within occupation groups in the period 2009-2015. According to our predictions, 80 000 additional workers are required both to replace older workers reaching retirement age and to accommodate industrial growth resulting from structural change. While the size of the working-age population will be large enough to meet this demand, there is a risk of occupational mismatch and lack of labor market integration of certain groups. In this context we devise policy recommendations. In addition, we present results of a survey of approximately 1 000 Thuringian companies. Interviews were conducted by IWH in the summer of 2008 and cover topics on previous and future staffing policy. The questionnaire focuses on companies’ strategies to meet their demand for skilled labor and their evaluation of potential measures in the fields of education, labor market, and economic policy.
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Regional Growth and Finance in Europe: Is there a Quality Effect of Bank Efficiency?
Iftekhar Hasan, Michael Koetter, Michael Wedow
Journal of Banking and Finance,
No. 8,
2009
Abstract
In this study, we test whether regional growth in 11 European countries depends on financial development and suggest the use of cost- and profit-efficiency estimates as quality measures of financial institutions. Contrary to the usual quantitative proxies of financial development, the quality of financial institutions is measured in this study as the relative ability of banks to intermediate funds. An improvement in bank efficiency spurs five times more regional growth then an identical increase in credit does. More credit provided by efficient banks exerts an independent growth effect in addition to direct quantity and quality channel effects.
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