Television Role Models and Fertility: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
Peter Bönisch, Walter Hyll
SOEPpapers, Nr. 752,
No. 752,
2015
Abstract
In this paper we study the effect of television exposure on fertility. We exploit a natural experiment that took place in Germany after WWII. For topographical reasons, Western TV programs, which promoted one/no child families, could not be received in certain parts of East Germany. Using an IV approach, we find robust evidence that watching West German TV results in lower fertility. This conclusion is robust to alternative model specifications and data sets. Our results imply that individual fertility decisions are affected by role models or information about other ways of life promoted by media.
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Können altindustrielle Städte zu “Hot Spots“ der Kreativwirtschaft werden? Das Beispiel der Medienwirtschaft in Halle
Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
F. Amey und J. Ringel (Hrsg.), Hotspots der Stadtentwicklung. Methoden, Praxis und Perspektiven der gemanagten Stadt,
2014
Abstract
In recent years, creative industries are more and more regarded as important drivers for local economic development. Especially media industry is often seen as a branch with a high potential for those cities where traditional industries have collapsed. Also the city of Halle has tried to stimulate economic activities in the field of media industry. This had been rather successful in several sections of media industry. But the set of locational factors in Halle is not really in favor for media industry. Therefore the potentials for future development are probably limited.
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Der Einfluss des Fernsehkonsums auf unsere Präferenzen
Walter Hyll, Lutz Schneider
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2013
Abstract
Fernsehen kann heutzutage als Freizeitbeschäftigung Nummer eins angesehen werden. Angesichts der großen Bedeutung dieses Mediums geht der Beitrag der Frage nach, ob Fernsehkonsum unser Verhalten und unsere Präferenzen beeinflusst. Um einen potenziellen Effekt methodisch einwandfrei identifizieren zu können, macht sich die Untersuchung ein einzigartiges natürliches Experiment innerhalb der DDR zunutze. Aufgrund von topographischen Gegebenheiten war es in einzelnen Regionen der DDR nicht möglich, Westfernsehprogramme zu empfangen. Dadurch kam es zu einer natürlichen Variation der Empfangsqualität. Die ökonometrische Analyse von Umfragedaten des Zentralinstituts für Jugendforschung der DDR aus den Jahren 1988/1989 kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass der Konsum von Westfernsehen die materiellen Aspirationen, also die Konsum- und Einkommenswünsche, erhöht hat.
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May Cities in De-Industrialized Regions Become Hot Spots for Attracting Cultural Businesses? The Case of Media Industry in Halle an der Saale (Germany)
Christoph Hornych, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
European Planning Studies,
2010
Abstract
Policy-makers from many regions where old industrial structures in the field of manufacturing have collapsed are trying to stimulate entrepreneurial activities of businesses in the cultural industry. The question is whether this strategy could be successful. This article examines the strategy of supporting the sector of media industry (“MI”) by policy-makers in the region of Halle in East Germany, where a strong de-industrialization has taken place after the German reunification. Stimulated by the policy-makers' support measures, there actually was a remarkable development of MI. However, the number of MI firms and their employees did not further increase in recent years, after having reached a certain level. This illustrates the limits of political measures for turning a city's path of industrial development voluntarily.
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How to Make a City Attractive for Knowledge-Intensive Firms? – The Formation and Stagnation of Media Industry in the Old Industrial Region of Halle (Germany)
Christoph Hornych, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
The Regeneration of Image in Old Industrial Regions: Agents of Change and Changing Agents. Mönchengladbacher Schriften zur wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Praxis, Bd. 22,
2009
Abstract
In many regions with development problems, which had – in the past – been the domain of traditional industries, policymakers are trying today to stimulate entrepreneurial activities in knowledge-intensive and creative industries. The question is whether this strategy could really be successful. This paper reports on a case-study for the region of Halle an der Saale, which is located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt (East Germany), where the strategy of policymakers has recently been the attempt to support firms from Media Industry (“MI”).
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Possible Ways for Developing a Media City: Chances for Newcomer Cities are rather Limited!
Christoph Hornych, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld, Michael Schwartz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2009
Abstract
Numerous cities try to set up themselves as centres of creative businesses, especially for media industry. Behind such strategies for supporting the local media economy stands the aim to profit from the high share of supra-regional sales in the media economy, from possible image effects as well as – especially in Germany – from the backflow of taxes for public broadcasting. Against this background, the article examines the efficiency of possible instruments for local decision makers to improve the location conditions for the media industry. An analysis of the location preferences of the media industry shows that localization economies as well as urbanization economies have a high importance. Economic measures to generate or strengthen these effects are the attraction of public broadcasting stations, the assignment of subsidies for local film and media producers, the endowment with science facilities and educational institutions which are relevant for media, the establishment of business incubators specialized on media industry, and the development of inter-firm networks and special city districts for the local media industry. Our analysis shows that most of these instruments have only limited impacts. In particular, cities without public broadcasting stations and without educational institutions relevant for the branch probably will not have the chance to become media cities.
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Is There a Way for Old Industrial Districts to Become Attractive for Cultural Industry? The Case of Media Businesses in Halle (Saale), Germany
Martin T. W. Rosenfeld, Christoph Hornych
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 15,
2008
Abstract
manufacturing have collapsed are trying to stimulate entrepreneurial activities of businesses in the cultural industry. The question is whether this strategy could be successful. This article examines the strategy of supporting the sector of Media Industry (´MI´) by policy makers in the region of Halle in East Germany, where a strong de-industrialization has taken place after the German reunification. Stimulated by the policy makers’ support measures, there actually was a remarkable development of MI. However, the number of MI firms and their employees did not further increase in recent years, after having reached a certain level. This illustrates the limits of political measures for turning a city’s path of industrial development voluntarily.
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Wirtschaftspolitische Beratung im Zeichen der Transformation: das Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle
Ulrich Blum, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Zeitschrift für Politikberatung,
2008
Abstract
The paper analyzes the role of scientific policy advice in modern democratic societies in general and the role of the Halle Institute for Economic Research as one of the major German economic research institutes in particular. It shows that public funded institutions must be politically independent in order to turn theory and evidence based knowledge into political advice. Typical communication channels are contract research and public hearings as well as publications in economic policy journals, a frequent presence in other print media, radio, television and internet.
The Halle Institute for Economic Research focuses on macroeconomic analyses and forecasting. In addition it scrutinizes structural change and transformation processes from a regional, innovation system, competition and urban perspective.
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Specialization as Strategy for Business Incubators: An Assessment of the Central German Multimedia Center
Michael Schwartz, Christoph Hornych
Technovation,
No. 7,
2008
Abstract
The literature on business incubators (BIs) mainly discusses findings of incubators that do not restrict themselves to specific sectors (diversified incubators). There is a strong disregard of the possible benefits arising from the concept of a sector-specialized business incubator (SBI), although this concept has become more important in recent years. In Germany, about 19% of the incubators can be characterized as being specialized. Since 1999, nearly one-third of all new BIs in Germany opened with a sector-specific focus. This study attempts to approach this research question by examining the advantages and deficiencies of this concept and to address them with empirical observations from an SBI in the city of Halle (Germany), which has an explicit sector-focus on the media industry (MI). We identify key benefits arising from such an incubator concept: (1) high quality premises and equipment, (2) improvement of service and consultancy offerings and (3) image effects for the location. We also find deficiencies of an SBI especially regarding internal networking activities and promotion of linkages to universities. Furthermore a negative working climate impedes interaction. This study offers implications for firms, incubator managers and local policy-makers who are concerned with the instrument of an SBI.
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