Kosten und Nutzen der Ausbildung an Tertiärbildungsinstitutionen im Vergleich
Martina Eschelbach, G. Heineck, Steffen Müller, Regina T. Riphahn
Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik,
No. 2,
2010
Abstract
We compare German institutions of tertiary education (universities and polytechnics) with respect to the cost of and the returns to their educational degrees. Based on cost data from two different sources we find that on average the expenditures of universities are lower than those of polytechnics when we consider expenditures per potential enrollee and per student enrolled during the regular education period. We apply data from the German Socio-economic Panel (2001–2007) to estimate the private returns to tertiary education and find higher returns to university than polytechnic training. These results are robust to a variety of alternative procedures.
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Credit Union Membership and Use of Internet Banking Technology
H. Evren Damar, Lynn Hunnicutt
B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy,
No. 1,
2010
Abstract
What makes households use internet banking? Bank adoption of internet banking technology has been widely considered, but relatively few papers address consumer usage of internet banking. This study looks at the determinants of internet banking usage among credit union members in the Western United States. We use call report data from the National Credit Union Administration to calculate the rate of internet banking usage among a credit union's members, which allows us to examine whether variations in institutional characteristics, local economic conditions and membership criteria have an impact on the internet usage rates among members of different credit unions. We find that members in credit unions that were early internet technology adopters have higher usage rates, and that the contribution to usage rates varies among types of online services offered.
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Institutional transition, social capital mix and local ties – Does Communist legacy explain low labour mobility?
Peter Bönisch, Lutz Schneider
Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge, (66),
No. 66,
2010
Abstract
This paper empirically analyses the question why East Germans facing weak regional labour markets show rather limited spatial mobility. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, our estimation of a simultaneous three equation ordered probit model shows that informal social capital reduces regional mobility while formal social capital supports it. Furthermore, we find that East Germans acculturated in a communist system are more invested in locally bounded informal social capital than in the mobility supporting formal social capital. Low spatial mobility of East Germans, we conclude, is to an important part attributable to a system specific social capital mix.
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Cross-border Diversification in Bank Asset Portfolios
Claudia M. Buch, J.C. Driscoll, C. Ostergaard
International Finance,
forthcoming
Abstract
We compute optimally diversified international asset portfolios for banks located in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States using the mean–variance portfolio model with currency hedging. We compare these benchmark portfolios with the actual cross-border asset positions of banks from 1995 to 2003 and ask whether the differences are best explained by regulations, institutions, cultural conditions or other financial frictions. Our results suggest that both culture and regulations affect the probability of a country's being overweighted in banks' portfolios: countries whose residents score higher on a survey measure of trust are more likely to be overweighted, while countries that have tighter capital controls are less likely to be overweighted. From a policy standpoint, the importance of culture suggests a limit to the degree of financial integration that may be achievable by the removal of formal economic barriers.
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Die ostdeutschen Städte und speziell Leipzig im deutschen Städtesystem
Peter Franz
Stadt Leipzig (Hrsg.),
2010
Abstract
In the pre-World-War-II era many East German cities held prominent positions within the national German system of cities. 20 years after the German unification we can strike an interim balance concerning these cities’ process of repositioning. For this purpose the 13 largest East German cities – including Leipzig, but without Berlin - are compared with cities of similar size in three West German regions (South, North, Center represented by North-Rhine/Westphalia). The indicators chosen rely to the cities’ economic and fiscal conditions. The indicators paint a differentiated picture: The average income per capita is in the East German cities still lower as in the West German cities; and the unemployment rates are still above the West German level. With respect to future growth potential the East German cities show a relatively good endowment with public universities and research institutions. In spite of the diverse depicted economic problems still to be solved the East German cities over the years have shown impressive endurance in catching-up.
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From District Capital to State Capital: What are the Consequences of Rebuilding the East German States for the System of Cities?
Albrecht Kauffmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2009
Abstract
20 years after the German unification, one may ask what consequences for the system of East German cities follow from the changes of the institutional framework. It may be expected that gains or losses of a location in the hierarchy of central places significantly affect the outcome of economic activity as well as the accumulation of – particularly human – capital. The reorganisation of countries on the territory of the former GDR that has elevated five former district capitals to the status of state capitals while the other ones became urban municipalities has created a model case whose implications were investigated by the IWH. The main objective was to identify a pattern of group formation within the former district capitals on the basis of socioeconomic indicators that coincides with the subgroups out of them with and without the status of a capital state. By means of cluster analysis, we have found that already from 1995 to 2000, differences between both groups with regard to income, structure of employment, human capital, and other indicators were significantly. In the period from 2002 to 2007, the spread of income is growing not only between both groups but also within the group of state capitals, dividing their cluster. We can conclude that the allocation of political institutions of higher centrality has influence on local economic development.
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CO2-Navigator – ein Softwaretool zur Unterstützung von Investitionsoptionen zur Emissionsreduktion und zum Management von Klimarisiken
Edeltraud Günther, G. Weber, M. Nowack, Wilfried Ehrenfeld
Klimaschutz und Anpassung an die Klimafolgen: Strategien, Maßnahmen und Anwendungsbeispiele,
2009
Abstract
Global warming and increased climate policies are associated with risks for many companies, but also with opportunities.The chair of Business Administration, esp. Environmental Management at the TU Dresden and the Halle Institute for Economic Research studied the question of how companies can deal with these challenges funded by the BMBF project “Corporate Management under the Constraints of Climate Change Policy (CO2 Navigator)“.Specific concern of the project network was to provide companies assistance to develop a) potential emission reduction strategies and medium-term adjustments to changing environmental conditions, b) assess the economic impact and c) derive decisions for practical use on this basis.The core elements of the research, risk management and assessment of adaptation strategies with the real option approach and the CO2-Navigator software resulting from the project are described in this article.
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The Standing of the East German Cities within the German System of Cities: An Interim Review on the Basis of Economic Indicators 20 Years after the German Unification
Peter Franz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
20 Jahre Deutsche Einheit - Teil 1 -
2009
Abstract
The hopes of the East German citizens coupled with the unification in 1990 were not only directed to their personal fortune, but also concerned the amelioration of the living conditions in their cities. Twenty years after this date, we can strike an interim balance how far these hopes have been become true. For this purpose, the thirteen largest East German cities (without Berlin) are compared to cities of similar size in three West German regions (South, North, Center represented by North Rhine/Westphalia). The indicators chosen rely to the cities’ economic and fiscal conditions. The indicators paint a differentiated picture: The average income per capita in the East German cities is still lower than in the West German cities and unemployment rates are still above the West German level. With respect to future growth potential, the East German cities show a relatively good endowment with qualified human capital, with public universities and research institutions. In contrast to that, the small size of the firms and the small number of firm headquarters are unfavourable for a dynamic growth in the future. Another persistent difference between East and West is the low level of public revenues, which keeps the East German cities dependent on Federal grants. The city officials were successful in cutting payroll costs and reducing the number of civil servants. In spite of the diverse depicted economic problems still to be solved, the East German cities over the years have shown impressive endurance in catching-up.
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New Growth and Poverty Alleviation Strategies for Africa – Institutional and Local Perspectives. African Development Perspectives Yearbook, Vol. 14
Tobias Knedlik, Karl Wohlmuth, Philippe Burger, Achim Gutowski, Mareike Meyn, T. (eds) Urban, Afeikhena Jerome
,
2009
Abstract
The Volume XIV analyses the “New Growth and Poverty Alleviation Strategies for Africa“. Institutional issues and perspectives in designing new growth and poverty alleviation strategies are considered in various case studies (Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Botswana and Tanzania). Other studies deal with institutional problems of resource-rich countries after conflict (Sudan) and with the institutions to enhance environmental protection parallel to economic growth and poverty reduction (Niger). Further studies deal with institutions to bridge the gap between formal and informal entrepreneurial sectors in Kenya and Tanzania. Local issues and perspectives for designing new growth and poverty alleviation strategies are considered in case studies on rural-urban development gaps in Tanzania and on microfinance as an instrument for new growth and poverty alleviation strategies (Tanzania and Eritrea). A study on small farmers in Ghana provides information on the role they can play in value chains. Two studies on Nigeria highlight the local and the sub-regional health and poverty alleviation programmes and the relation to growth. Book reviews and book notes on the theme are part of the volume. This volume builds the foundation for a comprehensive strategy of policy reforms in Africa so as to integrate new growth and poverty alleviation strategies. Complementary to Volume XIV is Volume XIII on “New Growth and Poverty Alleviation Strategies for Africa - Interational and Regional Perspectives“. Both volumes are of importance for all those who work in African countries as officials, executives, managers, researchers, and policy-makers, but also for all those who actively support Africa's development concerns at the international, regional, country, local, and project levels. They will experience this Volume XIV and also the complementary Volume XIII as indispensable sources of insight, reference, and inspiration.
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Finanzielle Instabilität und Krise in den Post-Transformations-Ländern
Hubert Gabrisch
Wirtschaftspolitische Blätter,
No. 3,
2009
Abstract
Contagion was only the trigger of the unexpectedly severe crisis in European post-transition countries. Rather, increasing financial fragility of the countries since 2001, after their banking and financial sector was overtaken by international financial institutions, was the origin. Euphoric expectations induced an asset price inflation followed by an increasing debt burden of the private sector, which was fueled by net capital inflows. This study argues that simple concepts of demand reduction do not offer any way out of the crisis. A second transition is necessary, which establishes a new growth model being robust against speculative capital flows and offering high growth rates.
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