East German innovative expertise strongest in Berlin and Dresden
Peter Franz
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2005
Abstract
Bestrebungen, die Wirtschaftsförderung sowohl sektoral als auch regional stärker zu konzentrieren, ziehen einen erhöhten Informationsbedarf über solche Schwerpunktbildungen („Cluster“) auf Seiten der Politik nach sich. In diesem Kontext hat das IWH in einem Gutachten die räumliche Verteilung von Branchenschwerpunkten, Unternehmensnetzwerken und innovativen Kompetenzfeldern für Ostdeutschland flächendeckend untersucht...
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Revitalisierungsprobleme ostdeutscher Innenstädte - Das Beispiel der Erreichbarkeit des Zentrums von Halle (Saale)
Peter Franz
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 201,
2004
Abstract
In the nineties the revitalization of the center of the city of Halle (Saale) (Saxony-
Anhalt) has been delayed by accessibility problems. The author uses the data of an empirical investigation in 2004 consisting of interviews with people in the street (N = 1 492) to check if this problematic situation is still existing. The results show ameliorations especially for persons using an automobile to reach the city center. Problems of accessibility tend to be rather low-rated on the list of urgent inner city problems. In comparison with several West German cities the city center of Halle still attracts a relative low proportion of persons living in the suburbs and the surrounding region.
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Stand und Tendenzen regionaler Disparitäten im wiedervereinigten Deutschland
Gerhard Heimpold, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Neuere Herausforderungen der Strukturpolitik,
2004
Abstract
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The economic situation and development in the German regions along the border with Poland
Gerhard Heimpold
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
No. 1,
2004
Abstract
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Technological capability of foreign and West German investors in East Germany
Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 189,
2004
Abstract
Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays an important role for countries or regions in the process of economic catching-up since it is assumed – among other things – that FDI brings in new production technology and knowledge. This paper gives an overview about the development of FDI in East Germany based on official data provided by the Federal Bank of Germany. The investigation also includes a comparison of FDI in East Germany to Central East European countries. But the main focus of the paper is an analysis of the technological capability comparing majority foreign and West German owned firms to majority East German owned firms. It shows that foreign and West German subsidiaries in East Germany are indeed characterized by superior technological capability with respect to all indicators looked at (product innovation, research & development, organizational changes etc.).
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The economic structure of the largest East German cities: economic differences increase
Cordula Winkler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 2,
2004
Abstract
Especially large cities come into appearance within the field of interregional competition, while trying to attract enterprises and mobile production factors. Against this background, the paper examines the economic stage of development of the largest East German cities. In addition to the actual situation we have a look at the development of cities since the middle of the 90ies. Relating to the actual economic situation, the findings show great economic differences between cities. Nevertheless, none of the large cities have taken on a leading position for all considered indicators. Instead of this each large city has its own specific strengths and weaknesses – compared with the other large cities as well as compared with East Germany on the whole. In addition, a comparison with the situation in 1995 shows, that the degree of differentiation between cities has increased. This development goes along with a strengthening of specific economic profiles, particularly in smaller large cities.
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Differences between German regions with respect to growth factors: a comparison based on a cluster analysis
Franz Kronthaler
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 13,
2003
Abstract
The objective of the paper is to examine regional disparities within Germany with respect to the endowment with growth factors. The study is based on a cluster analysis. Growth factors considered are innovation activity, human capital, private and public capital, and regional concentration. The results show that German regions can be classified in ten clusters with different characteristic profiles. Eight clusters consist of West German regions and two clusters comprise East German regions. There is no cluster which contains both West and East German regions. Regarding the East German clusters more precisely it can be shown that the endowment with growth factors in most of East German regions is low. This result applies also for several West German regions. However there are few East German regions particularly those with important agglomerations which have a more favourable endowment with growth factors. Nevertheless also in those regions still several weaknesses in the endowment with growth factors exist.
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A Study of the Competitiveness of Regions based on a Cluster Analysis: The Example of East Germany
Franz Kronthaler
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 179,
2003
Abstract
This paper examines whether some East German regions have already achieved the same economic capability as the regions in West Germany, so that they are on a competitive basis with the West German regions and are able to reach the same economic level in the long run. If this is not the case, it is important to know more about the reasons for the economic weakness of the East German regions twelve years after unification.
The study is based on a cluster analysis. Criteria for the cluster formation are several economic indicators, which provide information about the economic capability of regions. The choice of the indicators is based on a review of results of the theoretical and empirical literature on the new growth theory and new economic geography.
The results show that most of the East German regions have not yet reached the economic capability and competitiveness of their West German counterparts so that they - from the viewpoint of the new growth theory and the new economic geography - are not in the position to reach the same economic level. According to these theories economic disadvantages are most notably the consequences of less technical progress, a lack of entrepreneurship and fewer business concentration. Under these points it is especially noteworthy that young well educated people leave these East German regions so that human capital might will turn into a bottle-neck in the near future. Only a few regions in East Germany - those with important agglomerations - are comparable to West German regions that are characterised by average capability and competitiveness, but not to those with above average economic capability and competitiveness. Even those more advanced East German regions still suffer from a slower technical progress.
There are important policy implications based on these results: regional policy in East Germany was not able to assist raising all regions to a sufficient level of competitiveness. It may be more effective to concentrate the regional policy efforts on a selection of important agglomerations. This has also strong implications for the EU regional policy assuming that the accession countries will have similar problems in catching up to the economic level of the EU as have the East German regions.
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Standortbedingungen der Biotechnologiebranche - Eine Analyse zur Identifikation von Erfolgsfaktoren für Biotechnologiefirmen und Bioregionen
Walter Komar
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 176,
2003
Abstract
The paper analyzes the factors, which are important for the success of biotechnology companies and bio regions. For these purposes the local conditions of an advanced bio region are compared with a not so advanced bio region in a bench mark approach. The significant factors for the success of biotechnology companies and bio regions are identified by the logistic regression analysis. The result is that a bundle of factors for the development of biotechnology companies and bio regions is important. Therein the supply of human capital, networks and public research in the region play an outstanding role.
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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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