Threshold for employment and unemployment. A spatial analysis of German RLM's 1992-2000
Christian Dreger, Reinhold Kosfeld
External Publications,
2006
Abstract
Changes in production and employment are closely related over the course of the business cycle. However, as exemplified by the laws of Verdoorn (1949, 1993) and Okun (1962, 1970), thresholds seem to be present in the relationship. Due to capacity reserves of the firms, output growth must exceed certain levels for the creation of new jobs or a fall in the unemployment rate. While Verdoorn's law focuses on the growth rate of output sufficient for an increase in employment, in Okun's law, the fall in the unemployment rate becomes the focus of attention. In order to assess the future development of employment and unemployment, these thresholds have to be taken into account. They serve as important guidelines for policymakers. In contrast to previous studies, we present joint estimates for both the employment and unemployment threshold. Due to demographic patterns and institutional settings on the labour market, the two thresholds can differ, implying that minimum output growth needed for a rise in employment may not be sufficient for a simultaneous drop in the unemployment rate. Second, regional information is considered to a large extent. In particular, the analysis is carried out using a sample of 180 German regional labour markets, see Eckey (2001). Since the cross-sections are separated by the flows of job commuters, they correspond to travel-to-work areas. Labour mobility is high within a market, but low among the entities. As the sectoral decomposition of economic activities varies across the regions, the thresholds are founded on a heterogeneous experience, leading to more reliable estimates.The contribution to the literature is twofold. First, to the best of our knowledge, no previous paper has investigated a similar broad regional dataset for the German economy as a whole before. By using a panel dataset, information on the regional distributions around the regression lines as well as theirs positional changes is provided for each year. Second, the methods applied are of new type. They involve a mixture of pooled and spatial econometric techniques. Dependencies across the regions may result from common or idiosyncratic (region specific) shocks. In particular, the eigenfunction decomposition approach suggested by Griffith (1996, 2000) is used to identify spatial and non-spatial components in regression analysis. As the spatial pattern may vary over time, inference is conducted on the base of a spatial SUR model. Due to this setting, efficient estimates of the thresholds are obtained. With the aid of a geographic information system (GIS) variation of the spatial components can be made transparent. With Verdoorn’s and Okun’s law the figures show some significant patterns become obvious over time. In respect to Verdoorn’s law, for instance, a stripe of high values in the north-western part from Schleswig-Holstein via Lower Saxony and North Rhine Westfalia to Rhineland Palatinate is striking in all years but 1994 and 1995. In most periods the spatial component is likewise concentrated in Saxony. Clusters of low values can be found in northern Bavaria and, in some periods, in Thüringen and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Other parts of Germany appear to be more fragmented consisting of relative small clusters of low, medium and high values of the spatial component. With Okun’s law some changing spatial patterns arise. In all, spatially filtering provides valuable insights into the spatial dimensions of the laws of Verdoorn and Okun.
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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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Growing heterogeneity in the human capital endowment of the German federal states
Bianca Brandenburg
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 8,
2006
Abstract
Die Unterschiede in der Qualifikation der erwerbsfähigen Bevölkerung in den deutschen Bundesländern sind in der Zeit von 1991 bis 2002 größer geworden. Die günstigste Qualifikationsstruktur weisen momentan die ostdeutschen Bundesländer, Berlin sowie Hamburg, Hessen und Baden-Württemberg auf. Mit Ausnahme der fünf neuen Bundesländer wird dies auch zukünftig so bleiben. Zu den qualifikationsschwachen Bundesländern gehören das Saarland und Niedersachsen sowie zukünftig auch Sachsen-Anhalt und Brandenburg. Eine Annäherung der formalen Qualifikation hat zwischen den ost- und westdeutschen Bundesländern stattgefunden. Die selektive Abwanderung von Hochqualifizierten und die teilweise stark gesunkene Bildungsbeteiligung haben in Ostdeutschland zu Verlusten in der formalen Qualifikation der erwerbsfähigen Bevölkerung geführt, während in allen westdeutschen Bundesländern ein Trend zu höheren Bildungsabschlüssen zu verzeichnen ist und einige auch von der Zuwanderung Hochqualifizierter aus den neuen Bundesländern profitierten. Es besteht ein Zusammenhang zwischen der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung einer Region und dem Anteil der Hochqualifizierten an der Bevölkerung im erwerbsfähigen Alter. Eine geringe Arbeitslosigkeit und hohe Löhne sind meist mit der Zuwanderung Hochqualifizierter und einer starken Bildungsbeteiligung verbunden. Allerdings ist dieser Zusammenhang nicht zwingend. Es finden sich ebenso Beispiele, in denen ein hoher Anteil an Hochqualifizierten mit relativ geringen Löhnen und einer hohen Arbeitslosigkeit einhergeht. Dies ist insbesondere dann der Fall, wenn die betreffende Region über eine reichhaltige Bildungslandschaft im tertiären Bereich verfügt. Gleichzeitig wurde offenbar, daß zukünftig mit einem höheren Anteil von Hoch- aber auch von Geringqualifizierten zu rechnen ist. Die Bedeutung des dualen Ausbildungssystems in der beruflichen Bildung hat im betrachteten Zeitraum stark abgenommen. Der steigende Anteil von Geringqualifizierten ist im Hinblick auf die verminderten Erwerbschancen und starken Einkommensunsicherheiten in diesem Bereich bedenklich.
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Enhanced Cooperation in an Enlarged EU, CeGE-Discussion Paper No. 53
J. Ahrens, Renate Ohr, Götz Zeddies
,
2006
Abstract
The paper adresses the need for more flexibility in the integration process of the European Union after its recent eastward enlargement. Due to the increasing number of decision-makers and the increasing heterogeneity of economic structures, financial constraints, societal preferences, and political interests, European integration based on the uniformity principle is hardly feasible. In order to avoid a rank growth of integration and yet to strengthen the momentum of flexibility, so-called enhanced cooperation appears to be an appropriate instrument to be applied to the overall integration process. In this context the paper analyzes different possible developments of selected common policies in the EU if enhanced cooperation is practised by a sub-group of EU-members. Based on cluster analysis similarities and distinctions among the EU members with respect to some specific policy realms are elaborated to identify clusters, or clubs, of countries which may apply the instrument of enhanced cooperation in the specific policy fields.
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Heterogeneity in Lending and Sectoral Growth: Evidence from German Bank-level Data
A. Schertler, Claudia M. Buch, N. von Westernhagen
International Economics and Economic Policy,
2006
Abstract
This paper investigates whether heterogeneity across firms and banks matters for the impact of domestic sectoral growth on bank lending. We use several bank-level datasets provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank for the 1996–2002 period. Our results show that firm heterogeneity and bank heterogeneity affect how lending responds to domestic sectoral growth. We document that banks’ total lending to German firms reacts pro-cyclically to domestic sectoral growth, while lending exceeding a threshold of €1.5 million to German and foreign firms does not. Moreover, we document that the response of lending depends on bank characteristics such as the banking groups, the banks’ asset size, and the degree of sectoral specialization. We find that total domestic lending by savings banks and credit cooperatives (including their regional institutions), smaller banks, and banks that are highly specialized in specific sectors responds positively and, in relevant cases, more strongly to domestic sectoral growth.
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Panel Seasonal Unit Root Test: Further Simulation Results and An Application to Unemployment Data
Christian Dreger, Hans-Eggert Reimers
AStA - Advances in Statistical Analysis,
No. 3,
2005
Abstract
In this paper the seasonal unit root test of Hylleberg et al. (1990) is generalized to cover a heterogenous panel. The procedure follows the work of Im, Pesaran and Shin (2002). Test statistics are proposed and critical values are obtained by simulations. Moreover, the properties of the tests are analyzed for different deterministic and dynamic specifications. Evidence is presented that for a small time dimension the power is slow even for increasing cross section dimension. Therefore, it seems necessary to have a higher time dimension than cross section dimension. The new test is applied for unemployment behaviour in industrialized countries. In some cases seasonal unit roots are detected. However, the null hypotheses of panel seasonal unit roots are rejected. The null hypothesis of a unit root at the zero frequency is not rejected, thereby supporting the presence of hysteresis effects.
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Does language matter? Language barriers and convergence in the EU-25.
Lutz Schneider
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2005
Abstract
Gemäß neoklassischer Vorstellung erhöht die Offenheit von Ökonomien die Geschwindigkeit, mit der sich deren Pro-Kopf-Einkommen angleichen. Zur Förderung der wirtschaftlichen Konvergenz der EURegionen wurden daher die Barrieren des freien Austauschs von Faktoren und Gütern sukzessive vermindert. Das Fortschreiten der Konvergenz innerhalb Europas lässt dennoch zu wünschen übrig. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, ob nicht die Vielzahl der europäischen Sprachgrenzen Teil der Erklärung des schleppenden Annäherungsprozesses sein könnte. Aus institutionen- und informationsökonomischer Sicht lässt sich auf die höheren Transaktionskosten und auf Reputationseffekte verweisen, welche die Überwindung von Sprachgrenzen erschweren. In der Folge würde der Kapitalund Wissenstransfer von reichen Ökonomien hin zu weniger wohlhabenden Volkswirtschaften gehemmt, in umgekehrter Richtung verringerte sich die Wanderung von Arbeitskräften. Es resultierte eine geringere Konvergenzgeschwindigkeit sprachlich heterogener Regionen im Vergleich zu Räumen, die nicht von Sprachgrenzen durchzogen sind....
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Determinants and Effects of Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from German Firm-Level Data
Claudia M. Buch, J. Kleinert, A. Lipponer
Economic Policy,
No. 41,
2005
Abstract
Foreign direct investment is an essential aspect of ‘globalization’ yet its empirical determinants are not well understood. What we do know is based either on poor data for a wide range of nations, or good data for the US and Swedish cases. In this paper, we provide evidence on the determinants of the activities of German multinational firms by using a newly available firm-level data set from the Deutsche Bundesbank. The specific goal of this paper is to demonstrate the relative role of country-level and firm-level determinants of foreign direct investment. We focus on three main questions: First, what are the main driving forces of German firms’ multinational activities? Second, is there evidence that sector-level and firm-level factors shape internationalization patterns? Third, is there evidence of agglomeration effects in the foreign activities of German firms? We find that the market access motive for internationalization dominates. Firms move abroad mainly to gain better access to large foreign markets. Cost-saving motives, however, are important for some manufacturing sectors. Our results strongly suggest that firm-level heterogeneity has an important influence on internationalization patterns – as stressed by recent models of international trade. We also find positive agglomeration effects for the activities of German firms that stem from the number of other German firms that are active on a given foreign market. In terms of lessons for economic policy, our results show that lowering barriers to the integration of markets and encouraging the formation of human capital can promote the activities of multinational firms. However, our results related to the heterogeneity of firms and agglomeration tendencies show that it might be difficult to fine-tune policies directed at the exploitation of synergies and at the creation of clusters of foreign firms.
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The Influence of a Heterogeneous Banking Sector on the Interbank Market Rate in the Euro Area
Ulrike Neyer, Jürgen Wiemers
Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics,
2004
Abstract
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No euro weakness due to EU enlargement
Thomas Linne
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 7,
2004
Abstract
Mit dem EU-Beitritt der neuen Mitgliedsländer wird die Zusammensetzung der im Euroraum vertretenen Länder heterogener werden. Dies könnte den Außenwert des Euro schwächen. Inflations-differenzen zwischen den Länder als eine Ursache für dieses Phänomen werden allerdings im Zuge des fortschreitenden Konvergenzprozesses innerhalb der Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion (WWU) verschwinden. Auch von einer Vergrößerung des EZB-Rats, dem maßgeblichen Gremium für die Ausrichtung der europäischen Geldpolitik, ist keine Beeinträchtigung der stabilitätsorientierten Politik zu erwarten. Gleichwohl bestehen für die neuen EU-Mitglieder vor der Aufnahme in die Eurozone weiterhin Wechselkursrisiken fort, die auch die Stabilität des Euro berühren würden. Diese Risiken, obgleich eher gering einzuschätzen, bestehen insbesondere in volatilen Kapitalströmen. Eine durch starke Kapitalabflüsse ausgelöste Abwertung der Wechselkursparitäten während der Heranführungsphase zur Eurozone würde den Marktteilnehmern die fehlende Beitrittsreife der Eurozonen-Kandidaten signalisieren und auch die Stabilität des Euro-Wechselkurses berühren.
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