Regional Differentiation in East Germany: The Economic Situation of East German Districts at the Border to Lower Saxony
Rupert Kawka, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2003
Abstract
The article deals with the question whether the counties in Sachsen-Anhalt being located along the border to Niedersachsen benefit from the vicinity to an economically stronger state so that regional development is better there than in other parts of Sachsen-Anhalt. It is shown that despite certain weaknesses concerning input factors, the output indicators show better results than the state´s average. Furthermore, the article focusses on the strong East-West commuter flows and on the preference of companies from Niedersachsen to invest in this region.
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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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Comparable types of regions in East and West Germany show disparities – East German urban agglomerations have difficulties!
Gerhard Heimpold, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 15,
2002
Abstract
A discussion about the reform of regional policy in Germany and in the EU is ongoing. Against this background the article investigates the regional disparities between similar types of regions in East and West Germany after reunification. The findings do not only show a general East-West gap of economic welfare and of their determinants but also a visible spatial differentiation. It shows that the East German agglomerations have disadvantages in the field of interregional competition. They are worse endowed with crucial growth determinants compared with their West German counterparts, whereas the East-West differences for urbanized regions (where the population density is medium-sized) and rural regions are smaller. The disadvantages stated suggest a stronger concentration of regional policy in favour of these agglomerated spaces targeted on improving the locational attractiveness and strengthening their function as driving forces of the economic catch-up process in East Germany.
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Consequences of EU enlargement for regional promotion measures in East Germany
Franz Kronthaler, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2002
Abstract
Consequences of EU enlargement for regional policy in East Germany EU enlargement will change the status of regions currently assisted by EU regional policy. A number of regions will probably lose their status as “Objective 1 Region” and will hence have to exist without EU regional policy funding. Furthermore it has to be assumed that the EU will additionally reduce the maximal permitted regional aid rate for investment in the same regions. Most regions in the East German Länder will be affected by these changes. A “phasing out” of such Objective 1 Regions could ease the adjustment pressures. In anticipating to the probable reduction of the regional aid rate for investment, the development of infrastructure should already today be intensified in order to alleviate locational disadvantages as far as possible.
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Regional effects of infrastrukture investments on the New Länder
Walter Komar, Evelyn Krolopp, Joachim Ragnitz
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 2,
2002
Abstract
Given infrastructure deficiencies in eastern German states and concomitant
weak growth, the present volume analyzes the extent to which making
important infrastructure projects a priority could more quickly improve
local business conditions in eastern Germany. Although the Solidarity Pact
II makes funds available for infrastructure development, these funds are
allocated over a period of twenty years. This timeframe will not allow the
rapid improvement of local business conditions.
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Network activities and the productivity gap in East Germany: The role of agglomeration advantages
Anita Wölfl, Joachim Ragnitz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 13,
2001
Abstract
The article presents first some theoretical considerations about the connection between productivity and networking activities of enterprises. By operationalizing networks as an agglomeration of firms in a specific region, it is argued with respect to the East German economy that such networks have not yet developped in a sufficiently matter. Additionally, a “critical“ degree of agglomeration, from which networking activities lead to higher productivity, is missing in nearly all East German regions.
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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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Ten years of ecological reconstruction in the New Länder
Steffen Hentrich, Walter Komar, Martin Weisheimer
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 16,
2000
Abstract
Der Beitrag analysiert die Fortschritte des ökologischen Aufbauprozesses in den neuen Ländern. Schwerpunkte sind hierbei die ökologische Modernisierung der Wirtschaft, der Ausbau der Entsorgungsinfrastruktur und die Beseitigung altlastbedingter Investiti-onshemmnisse. Darauf aufbauend wird noch zu bewältigender Handlungsbedarf im Umweltschutz der neuen Länder aufgezeigt.
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Methodical limits of calculating productivity in the new Länder
Gerald Müller
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 129,
2000
Abstract
The „Arbeitskreis Volkswirtschaftliche Gesamtrechnung der Länder“ now publishes figures concerning the value added in Germany. Formerly the Statistische Bundesamt had this assignment. Some corporations have plant locations in the new Länder as well as in the old Länder. The employed method for splitting-up the value added produce by these corporations might lead to an underestimation of the overall value added produced in the new Länder. However, an estimation using the firm panel of the IAB shows that the East German productivity gap for manufacturing is overestimated by maximally two percentage points. Still in sectors that are dominated by multi plant corporations this effect is stronger. All in all the East German productivity gab is overestimated by maximally three percentage points.
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