How Does Industry Specialization Affect the Efficiency of Regional Innovation Systems?
Michael Fritsch, Viktor Slavtchev
Annals of Regional Science,
No. 1,
2010
Abstract
This study analyzes the relationship between the specialization of a region in certain industries and the efficiency of the region in generating new knowledge. The efficiency measure is constructed by relating regional R&D input and output. An inversely u-shaped relationship is found between regional specialization and R&D efficiency, indicating the presence of externalities of both Marshall and Jacobs’ type. Further factors influencing efficiency are externalities resulting from high R&D intensity of the local private sector as well as knowledge from local public research institutions. The impact of both the specialization and the additional factors is, however, different for regions at different efficiency levels.
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Going Public to Acquire? The Acquisition Motive in IPOs
Ugur Celikyurt, Merih Sevilir, Anil Shivdasani
Journal of Financial Economics,
No. 3,
2010
Abstract
Newly public firms make acquisitions at a torrid pace. Their large acquisition appetites reflect the concentration of initial public offerings (IPOs) in mergers and acquisitions-(M&A-) intensive industries, but acquisitions by IPO firms also outpace those by mature firms in the same industry. IPO firms' acquisition activity is fueled by the initial capital infusion at the IPO and through the creation of an acquisition currency used to raise capital for both cash- and stock-financed acquisitions along with debt issuance subsequent to the IPO. IPO firms play a bigger role in the M&A process by participating as acquirers than they do as takeover targets, and acquisitions are as important to their growth as research and development (R&D) and capital expenditures (CAPEX). The pattern of acquisitions following an IPO shapes the evolution of ownership structure of newly public firms.
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How an IPO Helps in M&A
Ugur Celikyurt, Merih Sevilir, Anil Shivdasani
Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
No. 2,
2010
Abstract
An initial public offering (IPO) can often provide a powerful stimulus to private companies seeking to pursue an acquisition-driven growth strategy. Based on a comprehensive analysis of U.S. IPOs, the authors show that newly public companies are prolific acquirers. Over 30% of companies conducting an IPO make at least one acquisition in their IPO year, and the typical IPO firm makes about four acquisitions during its first five years as a public company. IPOs facilitate M&A not only by providing infusions of capital but also by creating ongoing access to equity and debt markets for cash-financed deals. In addition, IPOs create an acquisition currency that can prove valuable in stock-financed deals when the shares are attractively priced. The authors also argue that IPOs improve the ability of companies to conduct M&A by resolving some of the valuation uncertainty facing privately held companies.
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What Happened to the East German Housing Market? A Historical Perspective on the Role of Public Funding
Claus Michelsen, Dominik Weiß
Post-Communist Economies,
2010
Abstract
The paper analyses the development of the East German housing market after the reunification of the former German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990. We analyse the dynamics of the East German housing market within the framework of the well-known stock-flow model, proposed by DiPasquale and Wheaton. We show that the today observable disequilibrium to a large extend is caused by post-unification housing policy and its strong fiscal incentives to invest into the housing stock. Moreover, in line with the stylized empirical facts, we show that ‘hidden reserves’ of the housing market were reactivated since the economy of East Germany became market organized. Since initial undersupply was overcome faster than politicians expected, the implemented fiscal stimuli were too strong. In contrast to the widespread opinion that outward migration caused the observable vacancies, this paper shows that not weakness of demand but supply side policies caused the observable disequilibrium.
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What Determines the Innovative Success of Subsidized Collaborative R&D Projects? – Project-Level Evidence from Germany –
Michael Schwartz, François Peglow, Michael Fritsch, Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 7,
2010
published in: Technovation
Abstract
Systemic innovation theory emphasizes that innovations are the result of an interdependent exchange process between different organizations. This is reflected in the current paradigm in European innovation policy, which aims at the support of collaborative R&D and innovation projects bringing together science and industry. Building on a large data set using project-level evidence on 406 subsidized R&D cooperation projects, the present paper provides detailed insights on the relationship between the innovative success of R&D cooperation projects and project characteristics. Patent applications and publications are used as measures for direct outcomes of R&D projects. We also differentiate between academic-industry projects and pure inter-firm projects. Main results of negative binomial regressions are that large-firm involvement is positively related to pa-tent applications, but not to publications. Conversely, university involvement has positive effects on project outcomes in terms of publications but not in terms of patent applications. In general, projects’ funding is an important predictor of innovative success of R&D cooperation projects. No significant results are found for spatial proximity among cooperation partners and for the engagement of an applied research institute. Results are discussed with respect to the design of R&D cooperation support schemes.
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Subsidized Vocational Training: Stepping Stone or Trap? An Evaluation Study for East Germany
Eva Dettmann, Jutta Günther
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 21,
2009
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyze whether the formally equal qualifications acquired during a subsidized vocational education induce equal employment opportunities compared to regular vocational training. Using replacement matching on the basis of a statistical distance function, we are able to control for selection effects resulting from different personal and profession-related characteristics, and thus, to identify an unbiased effect of the public support. Besides the ‘total effect’ of support, it is of special interest if the effect is stronger for subsidized youths in external training compared to persons in workplace-related training. The analysis is based on unique and very detailed data, the Youth Panel of the Halle Centre for Social Research (zsh).
The results show that young people who successfully completed a subsidized vocational education are disadvantaged regarding their employment opportunities even when controlling for personal and profession-related influences on the employment prospects. Besides a quantitative effect, the analysis shows that the graduates of subsidized training work in slightly worse (underqualified) and worse paid jobs than the adolescents in the reference group. The comparison of both types of subsidized vocational training, however, does not confirm the expected stronger effect for youths in external vocational education compared to workplace-related training.
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What Happened to the East German Housing Market? – A Historical Perspective on the Role of Public Funding –
Claus Michelsen, Dominik Weiß
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 20,
2009
Abstract
The paper analyses the development of the East German housing market after the reunification of the former German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990. We analyse the dynamics of the East German housing market within the framework of the well-known stock-flow model, proposed by DiPasquale and Wheaton. We show that the today observable disequilibrium to a large extend is caused by post-unification housing policy and its strong fiscal incentives to invest into the housing stock. Moreover, in line with the stylized empirical facts, we show that ‘hidden reserves’ of the housing market were reactivated since the economy of East Germany became market organized. Since initial undersupply was overcome faster than politicians expected, the implemented fiscal stimuli were too strong. In contrast to the widespread opinion that outward migration caused the observable vacancies, this paper shows that not weakness of demand but supply side policies caused the observable disequilibrium.
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Book Review on: African Development Bank Group, Enhancing Development in Africa – Public Private Partnerships, 2002, Valencia: Pressgroup Holdings Europe
Tobias Knedlik
African Development Perspectives Yearbook: Private and Public Sectors: Towards a Balance,
2004
Abstract
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Tentative Recovery, Public Debt on the Rise
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
2. Sonderausgabe
2009
Abstract
Im Herbst 2009 scheint der Tiefpunkt der schwersten weltwirtschaftlichen Rezession seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg überschritten. Vieles deutet auf eine konjunkturelle Erholung hin. Die Lage an den Weltfinanzmärkten hat sich erheblich entspannt, die Stimmungsindikatoren weisen wieder nach oben, die Auftragseingänge haben zugenommen, und die Produktion ist verbreitet gestiegen. Der Welthandel, der bis in das Frühjahr hinein rückläufig gewesen war, nahm im Sommer wieder deutlich zu. In einer Reihe von Schwellenländern, vor allem im asiatischen Raum, war die gesamtwirtschaftliche Produktion bereits im zweiten Quartal wieder deutlich aufwärtsgerichtet.
Maßgeblich für den Umschwung war die Stabilisierung an den Finanzmärkten, zu der es im Frühjahr als Folge massiver Interventionen der Notenbanken sowie der Ankündigung staatlicher Stützungsprogramme und Garantien für den Finanzsektor kam. Die Risikoneigung der Investoren hat sich inzwischen wieder stark erhöht. Indiz dafür ist der Anstieg der Kurse an den internationalen Aktienmärkten, aber auch der Rückgang der Risikoaufschläge auf Unternehmensanleihen und auf Staatsanleihen von Schwellenländern. In der Realwirtschaft machen sich außerdem zunehmend die anregenden Wirkungen der staatlichen Konjunkturprogramme bemerkbar.
Allerdings zeigt die Erfahrung früherer wirtschaftlicher Schwächephasen, dass Rezessionen, die mit Banken- und Immobilienkrisen einhergingen, zumeist nur langsam überwunden wurden. Daher rechnen die Institute damit, dass die konjunkturelle Dynamik im kommenden Jahr weltweit mäßig bleibt. Denn die Probleme im internationalen Finanzsystem sind noch nicht überwunden. Zudem kehren sich die günstigen Einflüsse der Energiepreisentwicklung auf Konsum und Unternehmensgewinne in den Industrieländern bei dem der Prognose zugrunde liegenden Ölpreis von 75 US-Dollar je Barrel im Jahr 2010 um. Ferner werden die finanzpolitischen Anregungen im Verlauf des kommenden Jahres nachlassen. Schließlich hat sich in vielen Ländern die Beschäftigung noch nicht an die deutlich verringerte Produktion angepasst. Dort wird die Arbeitslosigkeit selbst bei einer spürbaren Expansion der Produktion wohl noch geraume Zeit steigen, was die Zunahme der verfügbaren Einkommen und der Binnennachfrage dämpfen dürfte.
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