New industries in Eastern Germany - The state of the development of modern biotechnologies in Saxony-Anhalt
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2002
Abstract
East German regions are able to increase their economics and innovation potential, if they orient themselves on technologies, which release important growth effects. Such growth branch is the modern biotechnology. In this paper the development and the location factors of the biotechnology industry in Saxonia-Anhalt are analyzed and compared with the bio region Munich, which rank to among the best bio regions in Germany. The analysis shows that the development of the modern biotechnology in East German regions can be favoured, if the location factors are improved.
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Charity engagement of german savings banks: extent and regional effects
Martin Wengler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2001
Abstract
The german savings banks spent in in the year 2000 about 542 Mio. DM for charity projects. These funds influence the soft location factors in a positiv way and support the decrease of social disparities in economic peripheral regions.
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The East-West entrepreneurial gap – a crucial economic problem in East Germany?
Gerhard Heimpold
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2001
Abstract
The ratio of business units per inhabitant is one of the most important factors that determine the development of economies and regions, because it has a strong impact on competition, employment and innovation. In East Germany, where the process of catching up has decelerated since the mid-nineties, the findings on this topic are ambivalent: on the one hand, half a million self-employed persons are counted and a similar number of companies are registered by the regional Chambers of Industry and Commerce. Furthermore, about 157.000 companies engaged in handicraft exist. These figures can be regarded as a success compared to the beginning of the nineties at the outset of systemic transformation. On the other hand, a striking entrepreneurial gap in East Germany still exists compared to the situation in the western part. It seems that this gap will not be closed in the near future, even on the contrary: the number of newly registered business units in East Germany has declined. Against this background, the promotion of entrepreneurship will remain a great challenge on the political agenda.
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East German traffic infrastructure: Capital investment needs still high
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2000
Abstract
In the paper the positive influence of an improved connection to the highway infrastructure and further determinants on the industrial investments of East German districts are pointed out. For that the travel time to the next motorway junction and agglomeration centres is consulted. According to the analyses an improved traffic attaching can release considerable investment impulses.
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Regional analysis of East Germany: A comparison of the economic situation of states, districts, and municipalities
Franz Barjak, Peter Franz, Gerhard Heimpold, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2000
Abstract
A decade after the German unification we look at the extent of economic differentiation within East Germany. This is achieved by help of a set of selected statistical indicators for the years 1991 to 1998. Comparisons are drawn a) between the East German jurisdictions and b) between West and East German jurisdictions. On the federal state (Laender) level it can be shown that each state has developped its own specific economic profile. Brandenburg is characterized by a positive net migration (suburban function for Berlin), relatively low unemployment and high GDP values, but relatively low entrepreneurial activities. Saxony has achieved the lowest unemployment, a good endowment with human capital, modern industrial technology, infrastructure, and entrepreneurial activities. Special features of Thuringia consist of a relatively large number of patent applications and a stable industrial base. The economic state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is characterized by low industrial investment, negative net migration, and high unemployment. A special feature of this federal state is the intense investmenr in tourist services. Saxony-Anhalt registers the highest decrease in the numbers of industrial workers between 1991 and 1998 and the highest unemployment. On the other side it shows the highest amount of investment, especially in chemical industry and in mineral oil processing.
On the county level four clusters can be identified by means of a cluster analysis: A “cluster of counties with severe economic weaknesses” with a bias in the regions indutrialized in an early stage, a “cluster with a high human capital potential and suburbanization loss” consisting of 21 cities, a “cluster of counties with good economic results” predominantly surrounding the larger cities, and a “cluster of counties with SME growth potential” concentrating in Thuringia and Saxony.
The results at the city level show that the larger cities above 100.000 inhabitants, especially Dresden and Leipzig, do better than the smaller cities. Jena in Thuringia has specialized as a location for R&D, Zwickau in Saxony as a location for the automobile industry. Altogether the economic differences between the East German federal states, counties, and cities still are less pronounced than the degree of differentiation of their West German counterparts.
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High level of differentiated consternation, low eco-tax burden
Martin Weisheimer
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 4,
1999
Abstract
Für die west- und ostdeutsche Industrie werden die Auswirkungen der Ökosteuern analysiert. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die Stromkosten. Aus der geringen Umsatzintensität der ostdeutschen Industrie ergeben sich nicht zuletzt besondere Belastungen.
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Promoting the location of industries as regional policy strategy. Theoretical foundations, instrumental opportunities and limitations
Vera Dietrich, Peter Franz, Ingrid Haschke, Gerhard Heimpold
Schriften des IWH,
No. 1,
1998
Abstract
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