Non-take-up Behavior of Social Assistance in Germany - An Empirical Investigation of Unexpected Reactions
Joachim Wilde, Alexander Kubis
Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik,
No. 3,
2005
Abstract
Concerning German social assistance earlier studies calculate a non-take-up rate of more than 50 percent. This contradicts intuition. Using data from the low-income panel we estimate eligibility and non-take-up rate more precisely. However, avoiding simulation errors of earlier studies reduces the rate only slightly. Therefore, we estimate a multiple probit model to explain the nontake- up behavior. Significant reasons are low claims, stigma and the expectation of a short life of eligibility. Additionally, we show a significant simultaneous relation between earned income and the tendency to participate in social assistance. The sign is negative in both directions.
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Demography and Consumption Structure in Germany
Harald Lehmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2004
Abstract
The impacts of demographic changes on the consumption structure of private households are of high overall economic relevance. The qualitative composition of consumption entails to a high degree a certain branch structure and hence influences labor demand. The underlying projection shows that aging and shrinking of the german population have only minor effects on the consumption structure other than changes in income growth and distribution. Above all the expenditures for health will double but from a relative low level.
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Progress reports from the project "Productivity Gap"
Johannes Stephan
One-off Publications,
No. 3,
2004
Abstract
The project assesses the roles played by determinants of productivity gaps between Accession Countries in Central East Europe and the more advanced countries in Western Europe. The focus is on the respective weights of determinants and their influence on the potentials for future productivity catch-up.
The convenient feature about assessing productivity levels is that they inform us about the narrowing or divergence of income gaps, provide an indication of international competitiveness, and the sustainability of growth paths (technological development).
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Hartz IV: 1-Euro-Jobs setzen falsche Anreize
Herbert Buscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 11,
2004
Abstract
The paper analyzes the different incentives due to different possibilities of additional earnings to the receipt of unemployment benefits. Long term unemployed people may earn additional income due to a regular occupation in the first labor market or due to social work. In the latter case people receive a expense allowance which they are allowed to hold for the full amount. Contrary to this income earned in a regular job is partly reduced (by 85 % for the first 400 Euro, e.g.) which might make working in the social or common sector more attractive than working in the first labor market. Secondly, given the unemployment benefits and the additional amount of earnings it might be more attractive with respect to total income than the income earned in the low wage sector of the economy. This might imply a negative incentive for those who are working in a low wage sector.
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IWH Industry Survey at the Start of 2004: Companies´ income situation recovered, sales plans without labor market effects
Bärbel Laschke
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2004
Abstract
Die ostdeutschen Industrieunternehmen festigten 2003 trotz des allgemein schwachen konjunkturellen Umfeldes ihre Ertragslage. Mit Gewinn schlossen 57% der Unternehmen ab, ein Viertel wirtschaftete zumindest kostendeckend, und der Anteil der Verlustbetriebe verringerte sich geringfügig auf 18%.
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A model of private households´ consumption expenditure on the basis of representative income and consumption statistics
Harald Lehmann
Schriften des IWH,
No. 16,
2004
Abstract
The accurate measurement of the level and composition of private consumption is one of the crucial tasks of official statistics. There are different ways of measurement that have to be compared and assessed. In the following, a comparison between a supplier side based and a consumers side based measurement (household budget surveys) shows, that the the later one still has some drawbacks. Additionally the household budget surveys are used for microeconometric consumption analysis. Recommendations, potentials and drawbacks will be worked out.
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Diversifikation und regionale Wirtschafts- und Beschäftigungsentwicklung - Eine empirische Analyse für ausgewählte deutsche Gebiete
Peter Haug
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
No. 2,
2004
Abstract
This article analyses the effects of heterogeneous economic structures on the long-term development of regional employment. A simple model is introduced to illustrate the beneficial outcomes for households as well as for enterprises of locating in highly diversified municipalities because risk (volatility of income, recruitment costs in a broader sense) diminishes for both. Econometric results for a sample of municipalities in Lower Saxony provide some evidence for a positive effect of local economic diversification on employment opportunities. The results seem to be not confined to the aggregated local labour demand but also apply to most branches the local business sector.
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Excessive wage increases dampen capital spending
Klaus Weyerstraß
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2003
Abstract
Considering the debate about the opposite effects of rising wages for employee’s income and employer’s costs, the relationship between wage changes and investment is being investigated on an econometric basis for the years 1971 to 2003. The results show that the dynamics of investment activity slows down as real wages rise more than productivity increases.
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Consumption and Income. Paneleconometric Evidence for West Germany
Christian Dreger, Reinhold Kosfeld
Applied Economics Quarterly 49,
2003
Abstract
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New fields of application for the input-output analysis in Germany - Contributions to the Input-Output Workshop 2002 in Halle
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 4,
2003
Abstract
Centrepiece of the discussion is the employment-orientated evaluation of large scale Investments. The analysis is based on the static open Input-Output-Model. For both, industrial as well as construction projects, the direct and indirect employment effects at the construction as well as the utilization stage are being estimated and combined with the multiplier effect caused by the created income. Finally, the discussion concludes by evaluating the employment effects of the necessary reconstruction efforts after the flood in summer 2002.
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