Restructuring of the East German Industry
Udo Ludwig
Region: Ekonomika i Soziologija,
2015
Abstract
Der Aufsatz behandelt den transformationsbedingten institutionellen und realwirtschaftlichen Umbau der Industrie auf dem Gebiet der ehemaligen DDR. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die Privatisierungsstrategie der deutschen Treuhandanstalt für Staatsunternehmen und deren Folgen für die Eigentümerverhältnisse, die Aktivitäten zur Rückkehr der Unternehmen auf einen Wachstumspfad und der mit der Re-Industrialisierung verbundene Strukturwandel der Industrieproduktion. Es wird gezeigt, dass der institutionelle Wandel zugleich einen Integrationspfad der ostdeutschen Industrie in den gesamtdeutschen Wirtschaftsverbund vorbestimmt hat, dessen Wachstums- und Aufholpotential eng begrenzt ist.
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Interrelationship between Industrial and Innovation Development in East Germany
Gerhard Heimpold
Region: Ekonomika i Soziologija,
No. 2,
2015
Abstract
The article demonstrates that the most important reason for the slowdown and stagnation of economic convergence in East Germany is the weakness in terms of research and development and innovation. It analyzes the interrelationship between industrial and innovative development in the East German federal states since 1990. The article shows how the East German industry sector and its R&D activities looked like in the late 1980s and which transition it had undergone in the course of privatization. The industrial development of the new federal states after 1990 is analyzed. The paper reveals structural shortcomings in East Germany's economy and considers their impact on the progress in R&D.
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Zur Schlüsselfunktion des Baugewerbes beim Aufbau Ost
Udo Ludwig, Brigitte Loose
25 Jahre Bauindustrie in Ostdeutschland,
2015
Abstract
Das Baugewerbe in den neuen Bundesländern spielte seit seiner Neugründung im vereinten Deutschland eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Modernisierung der ostdeutschen Wirtschaft und hat sich nach Höhen und Tiefen zu einem weitgehend selbstbestimmten, wettbewerbsfähigen Produktionssektor entwickelt.
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Drivers of the Spatial Emergence and Clustering of the Photovoltaic Industry in Germany
M. Breul, T. Broekel, Matthias Brachert
Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsgeographie,
No. 3,
2015
Abstract
The drivers of the spatial emergence and clustering of the photovoltaic industry in Germany. Following the relatedness literature, we explore to what extent related industries influenced the regional emergence of the photovoltaic (PV) industry. In addition, we shed light on factors explaining selective processes of clustering. We particularly argue that generic resources and resources of related activities have been crucial for the regional concentration in early phases of the industry life cycle. With increasing maturity, industry-specific resources became more important. Based on a unique dataset containing population dynamics of the German PV industry, the hypotheses are tested empirically. Our results partially confirm the assumed beneficial effects of related industries for the emergence of the PV industry. Moreover, we observe changes in the relative importance of factors supporting regional concentration, with industry-specific resources becoming dominant as the industry matures.
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Private Equity, Jobs, and Productivity
Steven J. Davis, John Haltiwanger, Kyle Handley, Ron S. Jarmin, Josh Lerner, Javier Miranda
American Economic Review,
No. 12,
2014
Abstract
Private equity critics claim that leveraged buyouts bring huge job losses and few gains in operating performance. To evaluate these claims, we construct and analyze a new dataset that covers US buyouts from 1980 to 2005. We track 3,200 target firms and their 150,000 establishments before and after acquisition, comparing to controls defined by industry, size, age, and prior growth. Buyouts lead to modest net job losses but large increases in gross job creation and destruction. Buyouts also bring TFP gains at target firms, mainly through accelerated exit of less productive establishments and greater entry of highly productive ones.
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Financial Stability and Central Bank Governance
Michael Koetter, Kasper Roszbach, G. Spagnolo
International Journal of Central Banking,
No. 4,
2014
Abstract
The financial crisis has ignited a debate about the appropriate objectives and the governance structure of Central Banks. We use novel survey data to investigate the relation between these traits and banking system stability focusing in particular on their role in micro-prudential supervision. We find that the separation of powers between single and multiple bank supervisors cannot explain credit risk prior or during the financial crisis. Similarly, a large number of Central Bank governance traits do not correlate with system fragility. Only the objective of currency stability exhibits a significant relation with non-performing loan levels in the run-up to the crisis. This effect is amplified for those countries with most frequent exposure to IMF missions in the past. Our results suggest that the current policy discussion whether to centralize prudential supervision under the Central Bank and the ensuing institutional changes some countries are enacting may not produce the improvements authorities are aiming at. Whether other potential improvements in prudential supervision due to, for example, external disciplinary devices, such as IMF conditional lending schemes, are better suited to increase financial stability requires further research.
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Taxes, Banks and Financial Stability
Reint E. Gropp
R. de Mooij and G. Nicodème (eds), Taxation and Regulation of the Financial Sector. MIT Press,
2014
Abstract
In response to the financial crisis of 2008/2009, numerous new taxes on financial institutions have been discussed or implemented around the world. This paper discusses the connection between the incidence of the taxes, their incentive effects, and policy makers’ objectives. Combining basic insights from banking theory with standard models of tax incidence shows that the incidence of such taxes will disproportionately fall on small and medium size enterprises. The arguments presented suggest it is unlikely that the taxes will have a beneficial impact on financial stability or raise significant amounts of revenue without increasing the cost of capital to bank dependent firms significantly.
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Aktuelle Trends: Zinsspannen deutscher Universalbanken
Michael Koetter
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2014
Abstract
Die Zinsspanne ist die Differenz zwischen den Soll- und Habenzinsen. Dies sind also die Zinserträge, welche Banken für Anlagen, z. B. Kredite, relativ zu den Zinsaufwendungen erzielen können, welche sie für ihre eigene Refinanzierung, z. B. in Form von Einlagen, aufwenden müssen.
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IWH-Industrieumfrage im dritten Quartal 2014: Die Stimmung trübt sich ein
Cornelia Lang
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 5,
2014
Abstract
Das Geschäftsklima im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe Ostdeutschlands hat sich im dritten Quartal leicht abgekühlt. Aus den Ergebnissen der IWH-Industrieumfrage unter rund 300 Unternehmen geht hervor, dass die Unternehmen mit der aktuellen Geschäftslage, aber auch mit den Aussichten weniger zufrieden sind als im Vorquartal. Beide Komponenten befinden sich zwar weiterhin auf hohem Niveau. Die Indikatoren deuten aber darauf hin, dass die konjunkturelle Schwäche der deutschen Wirtschaft die ostdeutsche Industrie erreicht hat.
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The Dynamics of Bank Spreads and Financial Structure
Reint E. Gropp, Christoffer Kok, J.-D. Lichtenberger
Quarterly Journal of Finance,
No. 4,
2014
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of within banking sector competition and competition from financial markets on the dynamics of the transmission from monetary policy rates to retail bank interest rates in the euro area. We use a new dataset that permits analysis for disaggregated bank products. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we test whether development of financial markets and financial innovation speed up the pass through. We find that more developed markets for equity and corporate bonds result in a faster pass-through for those retail bank products directly competing with these markets. More developed markets for securitized assets and for interest rate derivatives also speed up the transmission. Further, we find relatively strong effects of competition within the banking sector across two different measures of competition. Overall, the evidence supports the idea that developed financial markets and competitive banking systems increase the effectiveness of monetary policy.
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