Re-Municipalizing instead of Privatization: The Right Answer to Changing Conditions?
Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
Wirtschaftsdienst,
No. 2,
2013
Abstract
For explaining why local governments in Germany are presently thinking about re-municipalizing some services which had initially been privatized, a couple of years ago, several changing factors, in combination with given constraints at the local level (like the well-known deficiencies of the local revenue system), could be identified. But a closer look at the changing determinants makes clear that there are other – and often better – options to react than just re-municipalizing.
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Transport Costs and Urban Systems
Albrecht Kauffmann
Forschungs- und Sitzungsberichte der ARL, Bd. 238,
2012
Abstract
The average costs of transporting goods in a national economy are one of thefactors that significantly contribute towards the shaping of the urban system. This paper pursues the question of what effect changes in transport costs (this can include a reduction as well as an increase) can have on the urban system. Various models based on the fundamental assumptions of New Economic Geography are applied The specific assumptions of these models are compared with one another and their results contrasted It is demonstrated that the modelling results, which in some cases are based upon very restrictive assumptions, appear to contradict one another in terms oftheirfindings, or, alternatively, that thefindings of these models should only be interpreted with regard to the specific questions that each pose. These include suburbanisation tendencies, the opening up of peripheral regions, and the concentration of company headquarters.
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The Russian System of Cities from the Perspective of New Economic Geography
Albrecht Kauffmann
Potsdamer Schriften zur Raumwirtschaft, Bd. 2,
2010
Abstract
The rise in energy prices may result in long-lasting rise in costs of freight transports. Which effects do rising freight transport costs have for the development of urban systems? Such rise of transport costs in real terms has happened in Russia after price liberalisation in 1992. At the same time, the Russian official demographic statistics provides data that can be used to test hypotheses concerning the development of urban systems affected by rising transport costs. In the present study, these data are comprehensively evaluated. The theoretical background is provided by modelling of a linear shaped urban system in the framework of New Economic Geography. By means of this tool, analysis can be applied to spacious urban systems with large transport distances. For the first time, the underlying theoretical approach is explained in detail. The empirical results provide evidence for the outcomes of the theoretical model: In spacious countries or regions, respectively, whose urban systems are drawn-out on long lines, rising costs of freight transport are conducive to tendencies of concentration of population in large cities in the centre of the system, while peripheral regions are increasingly disconnected.
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Energy Efficiency of the Housing Stock: Are potential savings overrated?
Claus Michelsen, S. Müller-Michelsen
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 9,
2010
Abstract
A core element of the European Climate Protection Policy is the reduction of Energy usage in private households. Legal instruments focus particularly on private multifamily housing. When refurbishing or building a new home, the German regulation for energy saving in buildings and building systems, Energieeinsparverordnung (EnEV 2009), thereby formulates relatively strict standards on energy conservation. But these standards mainly address the technical potentials of energy efficiency gains instead of considering market conditions and different types of housing, especially their age. Theory suggests that legal settings therefore retain owners to refurbish their homes, when returns on investment are negative, especially in regions where market conditions do not allow for higher rents or the costs of refurbishment are too high.
The article presents evidence for these theoretical considerations: based on a large scale sample provided by the company ista Germany, it can be shown, that energy usage differs by the age of dwellings and by the standard of refurbishment. Data suggests that the assumed potentials of energy conservation, which are mainly motivated by technical considerations, are too high. The differences may be a result of different cost functions of refurbishment. Further evidence for this finding is provided by architectural considerations.
As a result, the article suggests to legally distinguishing between different types of housing and to consider market conditions, when providing public funding for energy efficiency. It is suggested to implement a two multidimensional strategy, considering climate protection, urban development issues and the rationality of real estate investors.
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Wer zahlt für das schöne Leben? Technische Infrastruktur in Zeiten von Bevölkerungsrückgang am Beispiel von drei ostdeutschen Mittelstädten
C. Deilmann, I. Kropp, Peter Haug
Tagungsband Arbeitskreis Stadterneuerung an deutschsprachigen Hochschulen,
2010
Abstract
In cities with decreasing population there is an increasing concern about the future cost of technical infrastructure. A diminishing number of inhabitants will have to bear the costs of the public services provided by their community. Beyond the pure cost arithmetic the main research question of our project was how urban planning can contribute to alleviating the rising average cost per service unit (cbm, sqm). The study was carried out for three medium-sized cities in the eastern part of Germany with a time horizon of 2030. The focus is on water, sewage and communal roads.
The rather surprising result was that urban planning (attempts for densification, inner city development instead of extensivation of the urban fabric) has little effect on long-term cost compared to the unavoidable yearly renovation requirements of the technical infrastructure. Because of the dominant block of fixed cost in technical infrastructure systems, the demographic development is the main cost determinant. Therefore, in future a massive problem in financing today’s standard of public services will be imminent.
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Die ostdeutschen Städte und speziell Leipzig im deutschen Städtesystem
Peter Franz
Stadt Leipzig (Hrsg.),
2010
Abstract
In the pre-World-War-II era many East German cities held prominent positions within the national German system of cities. 20 years after the German unification we can strike an interim balance concerning these cities’ process of repositioning. For this purpose the 13 largest East German cities – including Leipzig, but without Berlin - are compared with cities of similar size in three West German regions (South, North, Center represented by North-Rhine/Westphalia). The indicators chosen rely to the cities’ economic and fiscal conditions. The indicators paint a differentiated picture: The average income per capita is in the East German cities still lower as in the West German cities; and the unemployment rates are still above the West German level. With respect to future growth potential the East German cities show a relatively good endowment with public universities and research institutions. In spite of the diverse depicted economic problems still to be solved the East German cities over the years have shown impressive endurance in catching-up.
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20 Jahre nach dem Mauerfall: Transformation und Erneuerung des ostdeutschen Innovationssystems
Jutta Günther, Nicole Nulsch, Dana Urban-Thielicke, Katja Wilde
Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem Nr. 16-2010,
2010
Abstract
Die Studie skizziert den Prozess der Entstehung des ostdeutschen Innovationssystems seit 1990 und bezieht in die Untersuchung auch den historischen Kontext mit ein, in dem die Struktur und die Philosophie des Forschungs- und Innovationssystems der DDR erläutert werden. Nach dem Systemumbruch wurden in den frühen 1990er Jahren durch die Privatisierung und die Transformation der Wissenschaftseinrichtungen für das heutige System wesentliche Weichen gestellt. Dabei war die Forschungs- und Innovationsförderung seit Beginn der Transformation ein wichtiger „Wegbereiter“ des ostdeutschen Innovationssystems. Aus heutiger Sicht lassen sich insbesondere drei Phasen der Forschungs- und Innovationsförderung unterscheiden: In der ersten Phase wurden noch im Jahr 1990 die „Maßnahmen der ersten Stunde“ verabschiedet, die darauf abzielten, dem massiven Rückgang der Industrieforschung in Ostdeutschland entgegen zu wirken. In der zweiten Phase (ab Mitte bzw. Ende der 1990er Jahre) erhielt die Projektförderung ein stärkeres Gewicht. Dabei gewann der Gedanke der Kooperations- bzw. der Verbundförderung zunehmend an Bedeutung. In der dritten Phase (seit ca. 2003 bis heute) ist ein weiteres Instrument der Innovationspolitik, die Netzwerkförderung, in den Vordergrund getreten. Sie stellt heute neben der Einzel- und Verbundprojektförderung einen festen Bestandteil der Förderlandschaft dar. Der lange Weg zur originären Innovationstätigkeit nach einem kompletten Systembruch lässt sich jedoch allein durch die Bereitstellung von mehr Mitteln für FuE nicht bewältigen. Die heutigen transformationsbedingten Strukturschwächen der ostdeutschen Wirtschaft lassen sich nur durch gänzlich neue Technologien überwinden. Ein neuer Technologiezyklus wird in der Lage sein, neue Industriezweige hervorzubringen. Dies zu unterstützen ist die zukünftige Aufgabe der Forschungs- und Innovationsförderung.
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From District Capital to State Capital: What are the Consequences of Rebuilding the East German States for the System of Cities?
Albrecht Kauffmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2009
Abstract
20 years after the German unification, one may ask what consequences for the system of East German cities follow from the changes of the institutional framework. It may be expected that gains or losses of a location in the hierarchy of central places significantly affect the outcome of economic activity as well as the accumulation of – particularly human – capital. The reorganisation of countries on the territory of the former GDR that has elevated five former district capitals to the status of state capitals while the other ones became urban municipalities has created a model case whose implications were investigated by the IWH. The main objective was to identify a pattern of group formation within the former district capitals on the basis of socioeconomic indicators that coincides with the subgroups out of them with and without the status of a capital state. By means of cluster analysis, we have found that already from 1995 to 2000, differences between both groups with regard to income, structure of employment, human capital, and other indicators were significantly. In the period from 2002 to 2007, the spread of income is growing not only between both groups but also within the group of state capitals, dividing their cluster. We can conclude that the allocation of political institutions of higher centrality has influence on local economic development.
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Urban Growth in Germany – The Impact of Localization and Urbanization Economies
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz, Annette Illy, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 19,
2009
Abstract
This study examines the impact of localization and urbanization economies as well as the impact of city size on urban growth in German cities from 2003 to 2007. Although, from a theoretical perspective, agglomeration economies are supposed to have positive impacts on regional growth, prior empirical studies do not show consistent results. Especially little is known about agglomeration economies in Germany, where interregional support policy and the characteristics of the federal system are further determinants of urban growth. The results of the econometric analysis show a U-shaped relationship between specialization and urban growth, which particularly holds for manufacturing industries. We do not find evidence for the impact of Jacobs-externalities; however, city size shows a positive (but decreasing) effect on urban growth.
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