Total Factor Productivity and the Terms of Trade
Jan Teresinski
IWH-CompNet Discussion Papers,
No. 6,
2019
Abstract
In this paper we analyse how the terms of trade (TOT) – the ratio of export prices to import prices – affect total factor productivity (TFP). We provide empirical macroeconomic evidence for the European Union countries based on the times series SVAR analysis and microeconomic evidence based on industry level data from the Competitiveness Research Network (CompNet) database which shows that the terms of trade improvements are associated with a slowdown in the total factor productivity growth. Next, we build a theoretical model which combines open economy framework with the endogenous growth theory. In the model the terms of trade improvements increase demand for labour employed in exportable goods production at the expense of technology production (research and development – R&D) which leads to a shift of resources from knowledge development towards physical exportable goods. This reallocation has a negative impact on the TFP growth. Under a plausible calibration the model is able to replicate the observed empirical pattern.
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What Drives the Commodity-Sovereign-Risk-Dependence in Emerging Market Economies?
Hannes Böhm, Stefan Eichler, Stefan Gießler
Abstract
Using daily data for 34 emerging markets in the period 1994-2016, we find robust evidence that higher export commodity prices are associated with higher sovereign bond returns (indicating lower sovereign risk). The economic effect is especially pronounced for heavy commodity exporters. Examining the drivers, we find, first, that commodity-dependence is higher for countries that export large volumes of volatile commodities and that the effect increases in times of recessions, high inflation, and expansionary U.S. monetary policy. Second, the importance of raw material prices for sovereign financing can likely be mitigated if a country improves institutions and tax systems, attracts FDI inflows, invests in manufacturing, machinery and infrastructure, builds up reserve assets and opens capital and trade accounts. Third, the concentration of commodities within a country’s portfolio, its government indebtedness or amount of received development assistance appear to be only of secondary importance for commodity-dependence.
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Short-term Economic Effects of a "Brexit" on the German Economy
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch, Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, Andrej Drygalla, Stefan Gebauer, Oliver Holtemöller, Martina Kämpfe, Axel Lindner, Claus Michelsen, Malte Rieth, Thore Schlaak
IWH Online,
No. 3,
2019
Abstract
Many questions about Brexit remain open. It is still possible that the UK and the European Union will not be able to agree on a withdrawal agreement. In this case a so-called hard Brexit (No-Deal Brexit) would happen. We have examined the short-term effects of a hard Brexit for the German economy. In a first step, effects via the trading channel are estimated based on an input-output analysis of international and sectoral links. The result is a loss of 0.3% relative to gross domestic product. This magnitude also results from the international Halle Economic Projection Model, which takes into account macroeconomic repercussions. A hard Brexit would, in addition to the trade barriers, mean significant uncertainty for firms and households. On the demand side, this has a negative impact on investment activity and private consumption. Taken alone, these effects amount to 0.1% of gross domestic product. Overall, German gross domestic product could be dampened by several tenths of a percentage point in the one to two years following a hard Brexit. The automotive industry would probably suffer most. However, recommendations for discretionary economic policy measures aimed at dampening short-term macroeconomic effects or at individual economic sectors cannot be derived from this. The automatic stabilizers are sufficient given the expected magnitude of the effects.
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Beschäftigungs- und Lohneffekte der deutschen Exportgüterproduktion im Lichte ihrer gestiegenen Importintensität
Hans-Ulrich Brautzsch, Udo Ludwig
S. Dullien et al. (Hrsg.), Makroökonomie im Dienste des Menschen. Festschrift für Gustav A. Horn. Schriften der Keynes-Gesellschaft, Band 14. Marburg: Metropolis-Verlag,
2019
Abstract
Anhand einer Input-Output-Analyse wird gezeigt, dass für die Wertschöpfungsketten der Exportgüterproduktion in Deutschland weder die Daten während des Globalisierungsschubs um die Jahrtausendwende noch die Daten während der Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrise und danach den Verlust an Arbeitsplätzen und Einkommen infolge der wachsenden Importdurchdringung der nationalen Produktion belegen können. Im Gegenteil wird gezeigt, dass Deutschland dank seiner Stärke auf den internationalen Märkten von der Auslagerung einzelner Arbeitsschritte und ganzer Produktionsstufen profitiert hat.
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Industry in Recession — Growth Forces Dwindle
Claus Michelsen, Oliver Holtemöller, Torsten Schmidt, Stefan Kooths, Timo Wollmershäuser
Wirtschaftsdienst,
No. 10,
2019
Abstract
The leading German economic research institutes have revised their economic forecast for Germany significantly downwards. The reasons for the weak development are the declining global demand for capital goods, which the German economy specialises in exporting, political uncertainty and structural changes in the automotive industry. Fiscal policy, on the other hand, is supporting macroeconomic expansion. Future development depends to a large extent on whether the trade conflicts can be resolved and how Brexit is structured.
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02.10.2019 • 20/2019
Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2019: Economy Cools Further – Industry in Recession
Berlin, October 2, 2019 – Germany’s leading economics research institutes have revised their economic forecast for Germany significantly downward. Whereas in the spring they still expected gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 0.8% in 2019, they now expect GDP growth to be only 0.5%. Reasons for the poor performance are the falling worldwide demand for capital goods – in the exporting of which the Germany economy is specialised – as well as political uncertainty and structural changes in the automotive industry. By contrast, monetary policy is shoring up macroeconomic expansion. For the coming year, the economic researchers have also reduced their forecast of GDP growth to 1.1%, having predicted 1.8% in the spring.
Oliver Holtemöller
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05.09.2019 • 18/2019
Downturn in Germany continues
Trade disputes are causing international trade in goods to decline this year. The manufacturing industry in Germany is particularly affected by this. However, a robust labour market is supporting the economy. According to IWH autumn economic forecast, German gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 0.5% in 2019. At 1%, output growth in East Germany is likely to be significantly higher than in West Germany.
Oliver Holtemöller
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Pricing Sin Stocks: Ethical Preference vs. Risk Aversion
Stefano Colonnello, Giuliano Curatola, Alessandro Gioffré
European Economic Review,
2019
Abstract
We develop an ethical preference-based model that reproduces the average return and volatility spread between sin and non-sin stocks. Our investors do not necessarily boycott sin companies. Rather, they are open to invest in any company while trading off dividends against ethicalness. When dividends and ethicalness are complementary goods and investors are sufficiently risk averse, the model predicts that the dividend share of sin companies exhibits a positive relation with the future return and volatility spreads. An empirical analysis supports the model’s predictions. Taken together, our results point to the importance of ethical preferences for investors’ portfolio choices and asset prices.
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13.06.2019 • 12/2019
Weak foreign demand – economic downturn in Germany
In the summer of 2019, uncertainty due to ongoing trade disputes weighs on the global economy. The export-oriented German economy is particularly affected. According to IWH summer economic forecast, gross domestic product is expected to increase by only 0.5% in 2019; the forecast for East Germany is 0.8%. The German labour market remains largely robust despite the economic downturn.
Oliver Holtemöller
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Stellungnahme zum „Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen“ anlässlich der Anhörung im Ausschuss für Wirtschaft und Energie des Deutschen Bundestages am 15. Mai 2019
Oliver Holtemöller, Christoph Schult
IWH Online,
No. 2,
2019
Abstract
Die Bundesregierung plant, bis zum Jahr 2038 die Produktion von Strom aus Braunkohle zu beenden. Den von dem Braunkohleausstieg besonders betroffenen Regionen will die Bundesregierung finanzielle Hilfe für den Strukturwandel gewähren. Dazu soll das „Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen“ beschlossen werden. In dieser Stellungnahme werden ökonomische Aspekte des vorgesehenen beschleunigten Braunkohleausstiegs diskutiert. Zentrale Aussagen der Stellungnahme sind, dass ein beschleunigter Braunkohleausstieg zwar geeignet ist, nationale Emissionsziele zu erreichen, aber die europäischen bzw. globalen Treibhausgasemissionen dadurch kaum beeinflusst werden. Die gesamtwirtschaftlichen Kosten eines beschleunigten Braunkohleausstiegs dürften überschaubar sein, aber die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung in einzelnen Regionen würde aufgrund der regionalen Konzentration des Braunkohleabbaus deutlich beeinträchtigt werden. Maßnahmen zur Förderung des Strukturwandels in den betroffenen Regionen sollten an den wichtigsten langfristigenWachstumstreibern Bildung sowie Forschung und Entwicklung ansetzen und vor allem das Humankapital stärken. Eine Konzentration auf die Förderung von Sachinvestitionen, auf die Industrie oder auf bestimmte Technologien ist hingegen nicht aussichtsreich in Bezug auf langfristige ökonomische Ziele.
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