Plant-based Bioeconomy in Central Germany - Mapping of Actors, Industries and Places
Wilfried Ehrenfeld, Frieder Kropfhäußer
Abstract
The challenges facing the 21st century, presented by a growing global population, range from food security to sustainable energy supplies to the diminishing availability of fossil raw materials. An attempt to solve these problems is made by using the concept of bioeconomy. Plants, in particular, possess an important function in this context - they can be used either as a source of food or, in the form of biomass, for industrial or energy purposes. Linking industrial and agricultural research and production, bioeconomy provides growth potential, in particular in rural areas.
The aim of this article is therefore to outline the status of plant-based bioeconomy
in three states of Central Germany - Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia - and to compare this to German plant-based bioeconomy. We take an in-depth look at the different sectors and outline the industries involved, the location and age of the enterprises as well as the distribution of important NACE codes. In conclusion, we highlight the significant number of new or small enterprises and the high research and innovation rate of Central Germany. We also stress the future potential of Central German plant-based bioeconomy as well as the importance of a more plant-focusedview of the technology sector.
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Musterknabe Osteuropa: Subventionskontrolle und staatliche Beihilfen
Jens Hölscher
Wirtschaftsdienst,
No. 5,
2014
Abstract
Am 1.5.2004 sind zehn neue Mitgliedstaaten, vor allem Transformationsländer, in die EU aufgenommen worden. Drei Jahre später, am 1.1.2007, kamen Bulgarien und Rumänien hinzu. Während deutsche Unternehmer zunächst die zusätzliche Konkurrenz fürchteten, bewerten sie die Auswirkungen der Osterweiterung inzwischen positiv. Die neuen Mitgliedstaaten haben von ihrem Beitritt grundsätzlich profitiert, sogar in Hinblick auf die Beihilferegelungen konnten sie den strengen Anforderungen der EU entsprechen. Allerdings haben sich flexible Wechselkurse in der Krise für die Länder außerhalb des Euroraums als Vorteil erwiesen. Zudem leiden Rumänien und Bulgarien unter der Instabilität ihrer politischen Systeme.
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Outperforming IMF Forecasts by the Use of Leading Indicators
Katja Drechsel, Sebastian Giesen, Axel Lindner
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 4,
2014
Abstract
This study analyzes the performance of the IMF World Economic Outlook forecasts for world output and the aggregates of both the advanced economies and the emerging and developing economies. With a focus on the forecast for the current and the next year, we examine whether IMF forecasts can be improved by using leading indicators with monthly updates. Using a real-time dataset for GDP and for the indicators we find that some simple single-indicator forecasts on the basis of data that are available at higher frequency can significantly outperform the IMF forecasts if the publication of the Outlook is only a few months old.
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Micro-Based Evidence of EU Competitiveness: The CompNet Database
Filippo di Mauro, et al.
ECB Working Paper,
No. 1634,
2014
Abstract
Drawing from confidential firm-level balance sheets in 11 European countries, the paper presents a novel sectoral database of comparable productivity indicators built by members of the Competitiveness Research Network (CompNet) using a newly developed research infrastructure. Beyond aggregate information available from industry statistics of Eurostat or EU KLEMS, the paper provides information on the distribution of firms across several dimensions related to competitiveness, e.g. productivity and size. The database comprises so far 11 countries, with information for 58 sectors over the period 1995-2011. The paper documents the development of the new research infrastructure, describes the database, and shows some preliminary results. Among them, it shows that there is large heterogeneity in terms of firm productivity or size within narrowly defined industries in all countries. Productivity, and above all, size distribution are very skewed across countries, with a thick left-tail of low productive firms. Moreover, firms at both ends of the distribution show very different dynamics in terms of productivity and unit labour costs. Within-sector heterogeneity and productivity dispersion are positively correlated to aggregate productivity given the possibility of reallocating resources from less to more productive firms. To this extent, we show how allocative efficiency varies across countries, and more interestingly, over different periods of time. Finally, we apply the new database to illustrate the importance of productivity dispersion to explain aggregate trade results.
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R&D Cooperation for Non-technological Innovations
Gunnar Pippel
Economics of Innovation and New Technology,
No. 7,
2014
Abstract
Past research on the impact of R&D cooperation on firm innovation performance has almost solely focused on technological innovations. This paper investigates the impact of R&D cooperation on non-technological innovation performance of firms. In doing so, seven different cooperation partner types are distinguished. Survey data from German firms are used for the econometric analysis. It is shown that R&D cooperation increases the probability of a firm to introduce non-technological innovations. R&D cooperation with suppliers, consultants, other firms within the same firm group and universities has a significant positive impact on organizational and marketing innovation performance. Cooperation with governmental research institutes and competitors has no significant effect. R&D cooperation with customers has a significant impact on a firm's organizational innovation performance, but not on marketing innovation performance.
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Macroeconomic Policy Formation in Africa - General Issues
Karl Wohlmuth, Achim Gutowski, M. Kandil, Tobias Knedlik, O. O. Uzor
African Development Perspectives Yearbook, Vol. 16,
2014
Abstract
In Volume 16 with the title “Macroeconomic Policy Formation in Africa - General Issues“ new macroeconomic policy frameworks for Africa are discussed. Emphasis is on macroeconomic policies focusing on sustainable and inclusive growth, especially by considering the employment targeting of macroeconomic policy frameworks in Africa. The responses of the macroeconomic policymakers in Africa to the Euro crisis and to the recent globalization trends are reviewed and analyzed. The role of macroeconomic policies for generating sustainable and inclusive growth is also discussed. In Volume 16 also the economics of the “Arab Spring“ countries is analyzed, by focusing on the socioeconomic conditions and the economic policy factors that have led to the “Arab Spring“ events. Highlighted are the cases of Egypt and Tunisia, and the new strategic and policy frameworks in these countries after the democratic changes. An agenda for comprehensive policy reforms for the Arab countries in Africa is presented. In forthcoming Volume 17 with the title “Macroeconomic Policy Formation in Africa - Country Cases“ macroeconomic policies in African post-conflict countries and in the ECOWAS region are considered. Volume 17 contains also a section with Book Reviews and Book Notes.
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Im Fokus: Veränderungen im Städtesystem Russlands: Fortdauernde Tendenz zur Konzentration
Albrecht Kauffmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2014
Abstract
Nach dem Ende der kommunistischen Herrschaft in Russland haben der darauf folgende Transformationsschock und die durch ihn in Gang gesetzten Marktprozesse Veränderungen im Städtesystem bewirkt. Anhand eigens aufbereiteter Daten der amtlichen russischen Städtestatistik geht der Beitrag diesen Veränderungen nach. Wichtigste Erkenntnisse sind die Erhöhung der Konzentration der urbanen Bevölkerung und die Verstärkung der Gegensätze zwischen urbanen Kernen und peripheren Räumen. Für die Zeit etwa ab dem Jahr 2000 darf vermutet werden, dass marktwirtschaftliche Prozesse die Veränderungen im Städtesystem beeinflussen. Hierzu kann die Neue Ökonomische Geographie einen wesentlichen Erklärungsbeitrag leisten, insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund des im Zuge der Preisliberalisierung erfolgten, noch nachwirkenden realen Anstiegs der Kosten des Frachtverkehrs. Diese schützen zum einen die im Zentrum ansässigen Unternehmen vor Wettbewerbern außerhalb der Zentren und verteuern zum anderen die Versorgung der peripheren Regionen. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse stützen die Hypothese, dass steigende Transportkosten die Raumstruktur beeinflussen. Vor dem Hintergrund eines möglichen Energiepreisanstiegs besitzen die Beobachtungen am Städtesystem Russlands daher auch für Deutschland Relevanz.
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7. Konferenz “Von der Transformation zur europäischen Integration – Ostdeutschland und Mittelosteuropa in der Forschung des IWH“ – ein Bericht
Gerhard Heimpold, Anne Löscher
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
2014
Abstract
Am 16. Dezember 2013 fand am IWH die Konferenz „Von der Transformation zur europäischen Integration – Ostdeutschland und Mittelosteuropa in der Forschung des IWH“ statt. Den Eröffnungsvortrag hielt der Minister für Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt, Hartmut Möllring, zum Thema „Internationalisierungsstrategie für Sachsen-Anhalt: Ziele, Umsetzung und künftige Handlungsbedarfe“. In den darauf folgenden Vorträgen von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern des IWH wurden Befunde über die Internationalisierung des FuEStandortes Deutschland, die Umsetzung des europäischen Fiskalpakts und der deutschen Schuldenbremse, die Konjunkturentwicklung in Ostdeutschland und über die Auswirkungen der Preisliberalisierung auf das Städtesystem Russlands präsentiert. Den Abschluss bildete ein Podiumsgespräch mit Persönlichkeiten aus Unternehmen der Region und der Wissenschaft zum Thema: „Ostdeutsche Mittelständler auf Erfolgskurs in Europa – Was steckt dahinter?“
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Technological Activities in CEE Countries: A Patent Analysis for the Period 1980-2009
Iciar Dominguez Lacasa, Alexander Giebler
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 2,
2014
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyze the technological activities of Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies and to compare them with the technological activities of other world regions. Using data from the EPO World Wide Statistical Database for the period 1980-2009 the analysis is based on counts of priority patent applications over time. In terms of priority patent applications, CEE reduced its technological activities drastically in absolute and per capita terms after 1990. The level of priority patent applications in this world region maintained more recently a stable level below the performance of EU15, South EU and the former USSR. In what concerns technological specialization, the results suggest a division of labor in technological activities among world regions where Europe, Latin America and the former USSR are mainly specializing in sectors losing technological dynamism in the global patent activities (Chemicals and/or Mechanical Engineering) while North America, the Middle East (especially Israel) and Asia Pacific are increasingly specializing in Electrical Engineering, a sector with strong technological opportunities.
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FDI Micro Database – Methodological Note – Survey 2013 in East Germany and Selected CEE Countries
Andrea Gauselmann, Björn Jindra, Philipp Marek
Einzelveröffentlichungen,
2013
Abstract
With the integration of post-communist countries into the European and global economy
after 1990, there was strong research interest into the role of multinational enterprises
(MNEs) for economic restructuring and technological catching-up. Most of the existing
empirical studies on locational determinants of FDI and host country effects did not take
account of East Germany. This might be for different reasons: Firstly, theoretical and
empirical difficulties derive from the fact that East Germany followed a distinct transition
pattern as it became a region subsumed in a larger and more mature economy. Secondly,
East Germany received private investment from foreign as well as West German firms. Only
the first can be considered as a foreign direct investment (FDI). Finally, there had long been
a lack of micro data to adequately analyse the activities of corresponding firms from a
production as well as technological perspective.
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