Knowledge Spill-overs for Knowledge-based Development: Progression in Theory and Obstacles for Empirical Research
Peter Franz
International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development,
2010
Abstract
As scientists and policymakers tend to interpret changes in the economy as a trend towards an increasingly knowledge-based economy, their recommendations and strategies for regional economic development frequently contain elements how to intensify the knowledge flows in the region concerned. Knowledge flows come into existence from intentional action, but also in an unintended way as externalities or knowledge spillovers. This paper reviews the ways regional and urban economics has dealt with the concept of knowledge spillovers. Knowledge spillovers are defined within a conceptual framework that points out different uses of knowledge in economics. The concept’s operationalisations in diverse empirical studies are systematised and discussed. After a critical review of the current state of research, policy strategies aiming to intensify knowledge spillovers are classified. The paper concludes with an outlook on promising new approaches to research knowledge spillovers and on the elaboration of more efficient policy strategies.
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A First Look on the New Halle Economic Projection Model
Sebastian Giesen, Oliver Holtemöller, Juliane Scharff, Rolf Scheufele
Abstract
In this paper we develop a small open economy model explaining the joint determination of output, inflation, interest rates, unemployment and the exchange rate in a multi-country framework. Our model – the Halle Economic Projection Model (HEPM) – is closely related to studies recently published by the International
Monetary Fund (global projection model). Our main contribution is that we model the Euro area countries separately. In this version we consider Germany and France, which represent together about 50 percent of Euro area GDP. The model allows for country specific heterogeneity in the sense that we capture different adjustment patterns to economic shocks. The model is estimated using Bayesian techniques. Out-of-sample and pseudo out-of-sample forecasts are presented.
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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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Characteristics of Business Cycles: Have they Changed?
Oliver Holtemöller, J. Rahn, M. H. Stierle
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 5,
2009
Abstract
The most recent economic downturn has shown that economic activity nowadays is still prone to large fluctuations. Despite a long tradition of research, the understanding of such fluctuations, namely business cycles, is still far from comprehensive. Moreover, in a developing world with new technologies, faster communication systems, a higher integration of world markets and increasingly better-skilled people the nature of business cycles changes continuously and new insights can be drawn from recent experience.
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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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Does Local Technology Matter for Foreign Investors in Central and Eastern Europe? Evidence from the IWH FDI Micro Database
Jutta Günther, Björn Jindra, Johannes Stephan
Journal of East-West Business,
No. 3,
2009
Abstract
Der Artikel betrachtet zum einen Investitionsmotive sowie das Ausmaß und die Intensität von technologischen Aktivitäten ausländischer Tochterunternehmen und zum anderen Faktoren, die einen Einfluss auf die technologische Anbindung der Tochterunternehmen an einheimische Wissenschaftseinrichtungen haben. Die Analyse bedient sich der IWH FDI Mikrodatenbank aus dem Jahre 2007, die Befragungsdaten von 809 ausländischen Tochterunternehmen in Mittel- und Osteuropa vorhält. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ausländische Direktinvestitionen in die Region immer noch stark von Markt- und Effizienzmotiven getrieben werden. Die Suche nach lokal gebundenem Wissen, Kompetenzen und Technologie ist nachgeordnet. Allerdings betreibt die Mehrheit der ausländischen Tochterunternehmen sowohl Forschung und Entwicklung als auch Innovation. Jedoch setzen weitaus weniger Tochterunternehmen auf eine technologische Anbindung an einheimische Wissenschaftseinrichtungen.
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Industry Concentration and Regional Innovative Performance – Empirical Evidence for Eastern Germany
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz
Post-Communist Economies,
2009
Abstract
Regarding technological innovativeness, the transformed economy of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) clearly lags behind the western part of the country. To face this weakness a broad mixture of policy measures was carried out in recent years. Particular attention is drawn to the development of industry concentrations and economic ‘clusters’. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these policy measures regarding how industry concentrations in fact promote innovative performance in Eastern Germany. The present study tries to fill this gap by analysing the relationship between industry concentration in Eastern Germany and regional innovative performance. Our empirical analysis is based upon the number of patent applications of 22 manufacturing industries in 22 Eastern German planning regions. The estimated regression models indicate an inverted-U relationship between the degree of industry concentration and innovative performance. An exceedingly high degree of industry concentration in one region hampers regional innovative output. We discuss policy implications of our findings and give recommendations for future refinement of ‘cluster’-supporting policy schemes in Eastern Germany.
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International Climate Policy after Kyoto – Economic Challenges Ahead
Wilfried Ehrenfeld
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 12,
2009
Abstract
Die Evidenz nimmt zu, dass der Anstieg der Treibhausgasemissionen seit Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts die globale Durchschnittstemperatur zunehmen lässt. Eine Begrenzung des Temperaturanstiegs auf 2°C soll zumindest die schwerwiegendsten Folgen der globalen Erwärmung vermeiden. Dazu müssten die Treibhausgasemissionen bis spätestens zum Jahr 2015 ihren Maximalwert erreicht haben und von da an bis zum Jahr 2050 weltweit drastisch reduziert werden.
Aus ökonomischer Sicht ergeben sich eine Reihe bedeutsamer Fragenkomplexe:
Wie ist zunächst die Ausgangslage in wirtschaftlichen Kategorien zu beschreiben? Hierzu sind vorab die Emissionen nach Regionen und Sektoren aufzuzeigen, um daraufhin die Anpassungsmöglichkeiten beschreiben zu können.
Welche Kosten und welche Erträge sind mit einer Klimapolitik verbunden? So liegt die Bandbreite des geschätzten Schadens im Fall eines ungebremsten Klimawandels zwischen jährlich 5% und 20% des weltweiten Bruttoinlandsprodukts (BIP); dem stehen Schätzungen von rund 1% des globalen BIP gegenüber, die zur Stabilisierung der Konzentration von Treibhausgasen in der Atmosphäre aufzuwenden wären.
Wie sind die globalen Ziele regional und sektoral zu verteilen und welche ökonomischen Instrumente sind hierfür zu empfehlen? Offensichtlich werden handelbare Emissionslizenzen präferiert, womit Ausgangszuteilungen und die Art der Zuteilung einerseits, die Handelbarkeit andererseits eine herausragende Rolle spielen.
Welche politökonomischen Konflikte ergeben sich und welche Empfehlungen können Ökonomen geben, um diese zielorientiert zu lösen? Was ist abschließend wirtschaftspolitisch zu empfehlen, um insbesondere im Sinne des Abschlusses eines internationalen Klimaabkommens glaubhaft zu bleiben?
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Book Review on: Mahmound A.T. Elkhafif, Exchange Rate Policy and Currency Substitution: The Case of Africa’s Emerging Economies, 2002, Economic Research Papers No. 71, Abidjan: African Development Bank
Tobias Knedlik
African Development Perspectives Yearbook: Private and Public Sectors: Towards a Balance,
2004
Abstract
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