The Role of the Human Capital and Managerial Skills in Explaining the Productivity Gaps between East and West
Wolfgang Steffen, Johannes Stephan
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 11,
2007
Abstract
This paper assess determinants of productivity gaps between firms in the European transition countries and regions and firms in West Germany. The analysis is conducted at the firm level by use of a unique database constructed by field work. The determinants tested in a simple econometric regression model are focussed upon the issue of human capital and modern market-oriented management. The results are novel in as much as a solution was established for the puzzling results in related research with respect to a comparison of formal qualification between East and West. Furthermore, the analysis was able to establish that the kind of human capital and expertise mostly needed in the post-socialist firms are related to the particular requirements of a competitive marketbased economic environment. Finally, the analysis also finds empirical support for the role of capital deepening in productivity catch-up, as well as the case that the gaps in labour productivity are most importantly rooted in a more labour-intense production, which does not give rise to a competitive disadvantage.
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The state of improvements at municipal waste water disposal systems in the New Länder
Walter Komar
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 10,
1997
Abstract
Seit der deutschen Vereinigung wurden infolge umfangreicher Baumaßnahmen deutli-che Fortschritte im Ausbau der kommunalen Abwasserinfrastruktur erzielt. Dennoch sind weiterhin Investitionen in Kanalisationen und Klärwerke erforderlich, um geltende Standards der Abwasserbeseitigung erfüllen und um das noch immer vorhandene West-Ostgefälle im Niveau der Abwasserbehandlung reduzieren zu können. Mit dem Abbau von Defiziten in der Abwasserentsorgung ging eine deutliche Erhöhung der Abwasser-gebühren einher. Regional gravierende Gebührenunterschiede für qualitativ gleichartige Leistungen weisen auf gesamtwirtschaftliche Ineffizienzen und Standortnachteile hin.
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