Das Programm „Stadtumbau Ost“ und seine wirtschaftlichen Effekte für die beteiligten Städte
Claus Michelsen, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 6,
2007
Abstract
Political measures in the field of urban development have relevant impacts on the local and regional economy, for example on private investment, the value of real estate or the image of a city. An evaluation of national (federal) programs for the support of urban development would not be complete without considering these impacts. For the measures, which are supported by the federal program for support on “Urban Redevelopment in East Germany” (“Stadtumbau Ost”), the economic conditions of the supported cities have played, so far, only a minor role. One expression for this is that the measures for demolishing (“Rückbau”) were concentrated on quarters with prefabricated buildings. From the perspective of local and regional economic development, there have also been failures in the allocation of money for increasing the value of real estate (“Aufwertung”), as the article shows for the example of the state of Saxony.
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Fiscal economy potentials of a county structure reform in Saxony-Anhalt
Simone Scharfe
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2006
Abstract
In view of the foreseeable demographic and finance-political developments the public house holds of Eastern Germany are under considerable strain to consolidate. This applies particularly to Saxony-Anhalt and there especially to local authorities. In 2003 the municipal expenses level (running material expenses and personnel expenses) of counties and communities in Saxony-Anhalt amounted 1,015 Euro per inhabitant and was clearly higher than the other East German states. Beyond the means of economisation through the efficient application of public funds, considerations are given to the potentials of country structure reforms. In the last legislative period, the CDU/FDP government already established the amalgamation of 24 counties to eleven new ones with the bill of 11.11.2005. The SPD - as an oppositional party at that time - submitted a proposal for an even further-reaching structural change with a concentration to five counties. This article comprises an estimation of the fiscal economisation potentials of both versions. In the first step, the (long term accessible) county expense levels of Saxony-Anhalt within the scope of the existing structure of a county is determined with the help of a Benchmarkanalysis. These results are then compared with expected expense levels of a reformed county structure which leads to the saving effect of the respective county reform. In the result of the analysis it appears that the suggestion of the SPD to the county structure reform allows to expect clearly higher saving effects than the suggestion of the former CDU/FDP government, a strong meaning of the already enforced community administrative reform is imputable.
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Empirical Studies: Results of a Fieldwork Project
Judit Hamar, Johannes Stephan
Foreign Direct Investment and Technology Transfer in Transition Countries: Theory – Method of Research – Empirical Evidence,
2005
Abstract
The second empirical analysis is based on a fieldwork project conducted between 2002 and 2003, which generated a large and unique database on 438 foreign subsidiaries in a selection of CEECs, namelay the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The field work was done between 2002 and 2003 by the use of a concise, two-page questionnaire, sent out to the largest foreign investment subsidiaries in the countries named. The questionnaire is presented in the Appendix to this book.In terms of methodology, the field work analysis focuses on the relationship between subsidiaries of MNEs which invested in CEE and their parent network, on the one hand, and the relationship between the subsidiaries and the local host economy, on the other.
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Non-market Allocation in Transport: A Reassessment of its Justification and the Challenge of Institutional Transition
Ulrich Blum
50 Years of Transport Research: Experiences Gained and Major Challenges Ahead,
2005
Abstract
Economic theory knows two systems of coordination: through public choice or through the market principle. If the market is chosen, then it may either be regulated, or it may be fully competitive (or be in between these two extremes). This paper first inquires into the reasons for regulation, it analyses the reasons for the important role of government in the transportation sector, especially in the procurement of infrastructure. Historical reasons are seen as important reasons for bureaucratic objections to deregulation. Fundamental economic concepts are forwarded that suggest market failure and justify a regulatory environment. The reasons for regulation cited above, however, may be challenged; we forward theoretical concepts from industrial organization theory and from institutional economics which suggest that competition is even possible on the level of infrastructure. The transition from a strongly regulated to a competitive environment poses problems that have given lieu to numerous failures in privatization and deregulation. Structural inertia plays an important role, and the incentive-compatible management of infrastructure is seen as the key element of any liberal transportation policy. It requires that the setting of rules on the meta level satisfies both local and global efficiency ends. We conclude that, in market economies, competition and regulation should not be substitutes but complements. General rules, an "ethic of competition" have to be set that guarantee a level playing field to agents; it is complimented by institutions that provide arbitration in case of misconduct.
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Municipal companies in Germany: turnover, employment, fields of operation
Peter Haug
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 13,
2003
Abstract
Despite the ongoing political and scientific discussion about justification and extent of municipal economic activities, neither official statistics nor surveys of associations or research institutes provide valid data concerning the importance of local public enterprises. The IWH has carried out an analysis of different statistical sources which tries to fill the gap for municipal enterprises and yields the following results: Turnover- and employment shares of (big) companies with municipal shareholding are rather small in Germany. Nevertheless, such enterprises dominate within certain branches (e.g. public utilities) and their importance for the regional economy is particularly in Eastern Germany above-average.
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Local conditions for the New Economy in structurally weak areas: The Example of Saxony-Anhalt
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2003
Abstract
The paper presents the main results of an analysis of the regional conditions for the New Economy in Saxonia-Anhalt, i. e. for the sectors of modern biotechnology and modern information technology. Therefore, the regional conditions in Saxonia-Anhalt and the Raumordungsregion (ROR) Munich are compared. Latter region is one of the most advanced areas in Germany with regard to the two sectors under consideration. As expected, the ROR Munich shows better results in most aspects. Nevertheless, an important result is that even in less economically advanced regions modern biotechnology and modern information technology have chances for a good economic performance. Therfore, these regions must use better their existing potentials and eliminate their still existing regional deficits.
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Hardly any technology spillovers from supplier contacts of foreign subsidiaries in Hungary
Jutta Günther
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 13,
2002
Abstract
“Almost no technology spillovers via supplier contacts of foreign subsidiaries in Hungary“ Transition economies in the process of catching-up expect that interactions between modern equipped foreign subsidiaries and backward local companies lead to technology spillovers, especially via supplier contacts. The explorative empirical study shows, however, that linkages between foreign subsidiaries and local firms do hardly exist. First, this is due to the fact that the foreign affiliates largely stick to suppliers in their home countries. Second, the technological disparities between foreign subsidiaries and local firms - the so-called dual structure of economy - hinders cooperation in the field of supplier contacts.
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Innovative and international – with local personnel: Results of a survey of New Economy enterprises in Saxony and Thuringia
Cornelia Lang, Ralf Müller
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2001
Abstract
BT and IT firms in Saxony and Thuringia were surveyed about their recruiting activities, the scope of their product markets and their R&D activities. The major findings are: The majority of firms engage in product and process development, their product markets are not predominantly local markets, and that they recruit their labor force in the local labor market. The latter fact is explained by the existence of the modern infrastructure in higher learning and research in the new Länder (which formerly constituted the GDR). Consequently the firms are optimistic to be also able to attract highly qualified personnel in the future.The recently enacted law, which grants a number of work permits for highly qualified jobs (green card) is therefore of no great significance to these firms.
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