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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Actors and Interactions – Identifying the Role of Industrial Clusters for Regional Production and Knowledge Generation Activities
Mirko Titze, Matthias Brachert, Alexander Kubis
Growth and Change,
Nr. 2,
2014
Abstract
This paper contributes to the empirical literature on systematic methodologies for the identification of industrial clusters. It combines a measure of spatial concentration, qualitative input–output analysis, and a knowledge interaction matrix to identify the production and knowledge generation activities of industrial clusters in the Federal State of Saxony in Germany. It describes the spatial allocation of the industrial clusters, identifies potentials for value chain industry clusters, and relates the production activities to the activities of knowledge generation in Saxony. It finds only a small overlap in the production activities of industrial clusters and general knowledge generation activities in the region, mainly driven by the high-tech industrial cluster in the semiconductor industry. Furthermore, the approach makes clear that a sole focus on production activities for industrial cluster analysis limits the identification of innovative actors.
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Im Fokus: Veränderungen im Städtesystem Russlands: Fortdauernde Tendenz zur Konzentration
Albrecht Kauffmann
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
Nr. 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,
Nr. 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,
Nr. 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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Parent Universities and the Location of Academic Startups
S. Heblich, Viktor Slavtchev
Small Business Economics,
Nr. 1,
2014
Abstract
Academic startups are thought to locate in their parent university’s home region because geographic proximity to a university facilitates access to academic knowledge and resources. In this paper we analyze the importance of a different channel, namely social ties between academic entrepreneurs and university researchers, for the access to academic knowledge and resources, and therefore for the location of the startups. We employ unique data on academic startups from regions with more than one university and find that only the parent university influences academic entrepreneurs’ decisions to stay in the region while other universities in the same region play no role. Our findings suggest that geographic proximity to a university may not per se guarantee access to knowledge and resources; social contacts are additionally required. The importance of social ties implies that academic knowledge and resources are not necessarily local public goods. This holds implications for universities’ role in stimulating regional development.
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09.01.2014 • 2/2014
Hallenser Leibniz-Institute präsentieren ihre Forschung zu Transformationsökonomien auf einer der wichtigsten sozialwissenschaftlichen Konferenzen weltweit
Die Erforschung ökonomischer Transformationsprozesse gehört zu den Leitthemen der beiden Forschungsinstitute und stößt nicht nur in den betroffenen Regionen, sondern auch international auf Interesse. Erkenntnisse über die Entwicklungen in Mittel- und Osteuropa und Asien helfen der Wissenschaft, Strukturwandel und dessen wirtschaftspolitische Steuerung besser zu verstehen.
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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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MNEs and Regional R&D Co-operation: Evidence from Post-Transition Economies
Andrea Gauselmann
Grincoh Working Papers,
2013
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to contribute to the literature by investigating the determinants of R&D co-operation between MNEs’ foreign subsidiaries and enterprises in the region of location, thereby leading to a better understanding which firm- and region-specific factors influence this co-operation behavior. Applying a logit model, this paper investigates which firm- and region-specific determinants influence technological cooperation between foreign subsidiaries and suppliers, customers, and research institutions in the region of location. Results suggest that especially the foreign subsidiary’s mandate in terms of R&D, its internal technological embeddedness, its technological capability but also the regional knowledge stock are positively associated with these co-operations. The analysis focuses on post-transition economies, using the example of five selected CEE countries and East Germany. We exploit a unique dataset - the IWH FDI Micro database - which holds information on 1,245 foreign subsidiaries in this region.
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Guest Editorial: Which Regions Benefit from Emerging Industries?
Matthias Brachert, Uwe Cantner, H. Graf, Jutta Günther, Michael Schwartz
European Planning Studies,
Nr. 11,
2013
Abstract
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