European Commission, Leibniz Association and IWH Discuss Innovation Related Policy in Transitions Regions
Björn Jindra, Katja Wilde
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 7,
2009
Abstract
Im Februar 2009 führte das Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH) gemeinsam mit der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft in Brüssel die Abschlusskonferenz des Projektes „Understanding the Relationship between Knowledge and Competitiveness in the Enlarging European Union“ (U-Know) durch. Bei diesem Projekt handelte es sich um ein dreijähriges Forschungsvorhaben, das im 6. Forschungsrahmenprogramm der Europäischen Union (EU) angesiedelt war. Das Projekt stellte auf die Untersuchung systemischer Aspekte von Innovation und Wissenstransfer sowie die Erarbeitung forschungs- und innovationspolitischer Handlungsoptionen ab. Ein besonderes Augenmerk galt dabei den Herausforderungen in den neuen EU-Mitgliedstaaten sowie Ostdeutschland. Aus dem Forschungsprojekt heraus entstanden insgesamt 54 referierte Publikationen sowie 33 Beiträge zu Sammelbänden. Ziel dieser Konferenz war es, die Forschungsergebnisse des U-Know-Projektes zu präsentieren und mit Vertretern aus Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und der europäischen Politik zu diskutieren. Dazu wurden verschiedene Fachvorträge aus den vier Arbeitsbereichen des Projektes (Unternehmen und Märkte, Kooperationen zwischen Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft, Innovationssysteme und Governance sowie die Rolle von Institutionen) vorgestellt und von Vertretern der Europäischen Kommission im Hinblick auf politische Implikationen kommentiert. Abschließend unterstrichen alle Beteiligten die zunehmende strategische Bedeutung von Bildungs-, Forschungs- und Innovationspolitik, um zum einen die Wettbewerbsposition der EU-15-Länder weiter zu stärken und zum anderen den neuen EU-Mitgliedstaaten einen nachhaltigen Aufholprozess zu ermöglichen.
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Investment (FDI) Policy for Azerbaijan, Final report
Jutta Günther, Björn Jindra
Einzelveröffentlichungen,
No. 4,
2009
Abstract
The report has been prepared on behalf of the Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) as integral part of the “Private Sector Development Program” run by the GTZ in Azerbaijan. A comprehensive investment policy is outlined with particular focus on the possibilities to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in Azerbaijan’s manufacturing industry (non-oil sector). The report makes particular reference to the experiences with investment policy development in Central and East European transition economies. It touches legal and institutional framework conditions in Azerbaijan as well as possible investment incentives schemes including investment promotion. Major recommendations refer to trade integration within the region, introduction of tax incentives as well as further improvements in business climate. Furthermore, the importance of complementary policies, such as competition and education policy, is stressed.
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Effectiveness of Competition Law: A Panel Data Analysis
Franz Kronthaler
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 7,
2007
Abstract
The paper explores what macroeconomic factors can tell us about the effectiveness of recently enacted national competition laws. Qualitative evidence suggests that numerous countries fall short in implementing competition law. Furthermore, there seems to be significant differences between countries. To examine what factors might contribute to the explanation of effectiveness of competition law panel regression analysis is used. The results indicate that the level of economic development matters, however the institutional learning curve is also relevant. Furthermore, larger countries should be more concerned with competition advocacy activities than smaller countries and it seems to be the case that the problem of capture of competition law is serious in countries with high levels of corruption.
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The relationship between unemployment and output in post-communist countries
Hubert Gabrisch, Herbert Buscher
Post-Communist Economies,
2006
Abstract
Unemployment is still disappointingly high in most Central and East European countries, and might be a reflection of the ongoing adjustment to institutional shocks resulting from systemic transition, or it may be caused by high labour market rigidity, or aggregate demand that is too weak. In this paper we have investigated the dynamics of unemployment and output in those eight post-communist countries, which entered the EU in 2004. We used a model related to Okun’s Law; i.e. the first differences in unemployment rates were regressed on GDP growth rates. We estimated country and panel regressions with instrument variables (TSLS) and applied a few tests to the data and regression results. We assume transition of labour markets to be accomplished when a robust relationship exists between unemployment rate changes and GDP growth. Moreover, the estimated coefficients contain information about labour market rigidity and unemployment thresholds of output growth. Our results suggest that the transition of labour markets can be regarded as completed since unemployment responds to output changes and not to a changing institutional environment that destroys jobs in the state sector. The regression coefficients have demonstrated that a high trend rate of productivity and a high unemployment intensity of output growth have been occurring since 1998. Therefore, we conclude that labour market rigidities do not play an important role in explaining high unemployment rates. However, GDP growth is dominated by productivity progress and the employment-relevant component of aggregate demand is too low to reduce the high level of unemployment substantially.
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The unemployment-growth relationship in transition countries
Hubert Gabrisch, Herbert Buscher
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 5,
2005
Abstract
Does the disappointingly high unemployment in Central and East European countries reflect non-completed adjustment to institutional shocks from transition to a market economy, or is it the result of high labour market rigidities, or rather a syndrome of too weak aggregate demand and output? In the case of transitional causes, unemployment is expected to decline over time. Otherwise, it would pose a challenge to the European Union, particular in case of accession countries, for it jeopardizes the ambitious integration plans of, and may trigger excessive migration to the Union. In order to find out which hypothesis holds 15 years after transition has started, we analyze the unemploymentgrowth dynamics in the eight new member countries from Central-Eastern Europe. The study is based on country and panel regressions with instrument variables (TSLS). The results suggest to declare the transition of labour markets as completed; unemployment responds to output and not to a changing institutional environment for job creation. The regression coefficients report a high trend rate of productivity and a high unemployment intensity of output growth since 1998. The conclusion is that labour market rigidities do not to play an important role in explaining high unemployment rates. Rather, GDP growth is dominated by productivity progress, while the employment relevant component of aggregate demand is too low to reduce substantially the high level of unemployment.
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Non-market Allocation in Transport: A Reassessment of its Justification and the Challenge of Institutional Transition
Ulrich Blum
50 Years of Transport Research: Experiences Gained and Major Challenges Ahead,
2005
Abstract
Economic theory knows two systems of coordination: through public choice or through the market principle. If the market is chosen, then it may either be regulated, or it may be fully competitive (or be in between these two extremes). This paper first inquires into the reasons for regulation, it analyses the reasons for the important role of government in the transportation sector, especially in the procurement of infrastructure. Historical reasons are seen as important reasons for bureaucratic objections to deregulation. Fundamental economic concepts are forwarded that suggest market failure and justify a regulatory environment. The reasons for regulation cited above, however, may be challenged; we forward theoretical concepts from industrial organization theory and from institutional economics which suggest that competition is even possible on the level of infrastructure. The transition from a strongly regulated to a competitive environment poses problems that have given lieu to numerous failures in privatization and deregulation. Structural inertia plays an important role, and the incentive-compatible management of infrastructure is seen as the key element of any liberal transportation policy. It requires that the setting of rules on the meta level satisfies both local and global efficiency ends. We conclude that, in market economies, competition and regulation should not be substitutes but complements. General rules, an "ethic of competition" have to be set that guarantee a level playing field to agents; it is complimented by institutions that provide arbitration in case of misconduct.
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Pension Reform in Hungary
Peter Gedeon
IWH-Sonderhefte,
No. 5,
2000
Abstract
In Hungary social policy reforms in general and the pension reform in particular followed the introduction of the institutions of market economy with a considerable time lag, if at all. Although it was clear from the outset that the communist welfare state could not be sustained, comprehensive institutional reforms in the pension or health care systems were not introduced in the first six years of the postsocialist transition. This uneasiness to reform the social security systems has to do with the contradicting constraints decision makers have to face in the process of systemic change.
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Macroeconomic and corporate adjustment progress in East Germany
Forschungsreihe,
No. 5,
1999
Abstract
Der 19. Bericht beschreibt die Fortschritte und Defizite bei der strukturellen Erneuerung der ostdeutschen Wirtschaft im Zeitraum von 1990 bis 1999. Die Ergebnisse werden im Vergleich zur westdeutschen Wirtschaft bewertet. Hauptgegenstand der Untersuchungen ist das Verarbeitende Gewerbe. Ein gesonderter Schwerpunkt befasst sich mit der Veränderung der Lebensbedingungen der Bevölkerung.
Mit dem 19. Bericht werden die Untersuchungen zur Transformation der ostdeutschen Wirtschaft abgeschlossen, die das Deutsche Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin, das Institut für Weltwirtschaft (IfW), Kiel und das Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH) im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts „Gesamtwirtschaftliche und unternehmerische Anpassungsprozesse in Ostdeutschland“ des damaligen Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft von 1990 bis 1999 wissenschaftlich begleitet haben.
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The role of real exchange rates in the Central European transformation
Lucjan T. Orlowski
Forschungsreihe,
No. 1,
1998
Abstract
The study eamines the interactions between real exchange rates, current accounts and capital account balances in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The empirical investigation leads to a strong endorsement of more flexible exchange rates in the present stage of the economic transformation process of the former socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Exchange rate flexibility allows more independent monetary policies that focus on financing structural adjustments and institutional changes in transition economies. However, the integration process with the European Union and more remote considerations of possible accession to the European Monetary Union will require a gradual move to fixed exchange rates and to an exchangerate-based monetary policy.
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Stock markets in Central and Eastern Europe: Investors euphoric despite institutional obstacles
Thomas Linne
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 1,
1996
Abstract
Die Massenprivatisierung in verschiedenen Ländern Mittel- und Osteuropas hat entscheidende Impulse für die Entwicklung der Aktienmärkte gegeben. Die anfängliche Begeisterung ausländischer Investoren ist angesichts der Liquiditätsprobleme dieser Märkte übertrieben. Für die Kapitalnachfrage der inländischen Unternehmen bedeutet die geringe Liquidität eine bindende Restriktion bei der Kapitalbeschaffung. Als Ausweichreaktion streben deshalb einige Unternehmen eine Börsennotierung im Ausland an.
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