Internal Migration in East Germany After Reunification: Demographic and Economic Effects
Matthias Wieschemeyer
H.-G. Jeong and G. Heimpold (eds.): Economic Transition in Unified Germany and Implications for Korea. Policy References 17-13. Sejong: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy,
2017
Abstract
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Key Economic Decisions in the Course of German Unification
Gerhard Heimpold, Maike Irrek
H.-G. Jeong and G. Heimpold (eds.): Economic Transition in Unified Germany and Implications for Korea. Policy References 17-13. Sejong: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy,
2017
Abstract
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Restructuring of Industrial Enterprises in the Course of Privatization in East Germany
Gerhard Heimpold
H.-G. Jeong and G. Heimpold (eds.): Economic Transition in Unified Germany and Implications for Korea. Policy References 17-13. Sejong: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy,
2017
Abstract
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Economic Transition in Unified Germany and Implications for Korea
Hyung-Gon Jeong, Gerhard Heimpold
H.-G. Jeong and G. Heimpold (eds.): Economic Transition in Unified Germany and Implications for Korea. Policy References 17-13. Sejong: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy,
2017
Abstract
The reunification of Germany, which marked the end of the Cold War in the 20th century, is regarded as one of the most exemplary cases of social integration in human history. Nearly three decades after the German reunification, the economic and social shocks that occurred at the beginning of the reunification process have largely been resolved. Moreover, the unified Germany has grown into one of the most advanced economies in the world.
The unification process that Germany underwent may not necessarily be the way that the Republic of Korea would choose. However, the economic and social exchanges between East and West Germany prior to unification, and the cooperation in a myriad of policies based on these exchanges, served as the crucial foundation for unification. The case of Germany will surely help us find a better way for the re-unification of the Korean Peninsula.
In this context, this is the first edition of a joint research which provides diverse insights on social and economic issues during the process of unification. It consists of nine chapters whose main topics include policies on macroeconomic stabilization, the privatization of state-owned enterprises in East Germany, labor policies and the migration of labor, integration of the social safety nets of the North and South, and securing finances for reunification. To start with, the first part covers macroeconomic stabilization measures, which include policies implemented by the federal government of Germany to overcome macroeconomic shocks directly after the reunification. There was a temporary setback in the economy at the initial phase of reunification as the investment per GDP went down and the level of fiscal debt escalated, reverting to its original trend prior to the reunification. While it appears the momentum for growth was compromised by reunification from the perspective of growth rate of real GDP, this state did not last long and benefits have outpaced the costs since 2000.
In the section which examines the privatization of state-owned enterprises in East Germany, an analysis was conducted on the modernization of industrial infrastructure of East German firms. There was a surge in investment in East German area at the beginning stages but this was focused on a specific group of firms. Most of the firms were privatized through unofficial channels, with a third of these conducted in a management buy-out (MBO) process that was highly effective. Further analysis of a firm called Jenoptik, which was successfully bailed out, is incorporated as to draw implications of its accomplishments.
In the section on migration, we examine how the gap between the unemployment rates in the West and East have narrowed as the population flow shifted from the West to East. Consequently, there was no significant deviation in terms of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) per capita in each state of East Germany. However, as the labor market stabilized in East Germany and population flows have weakened, the deviation will become larger. Meanwhile, if we make a prediction about the movement of population between the North and the South, which show a remarkable difference in their economic circumstances, a radical reunification process such as Germany’s case would force 7% of the population of the North to move towards the South. Upon reunification, the estimated unemployment rate in North Korea would remain at least 30% for the time being. In order to reduce the initial unemployment rate, it is crucial to design a program that trains the unemployed and to build a system that predicts changes in labor demand.
It seems nearly impossible to apply the social safety nets of the South to the North, as there is a systemic difference in ideologies. Taking steps toward integration would be the most suitable option in the case of the Koreas. We propose to build a sound groundwork for stabilizing the interest rates and exchange rates, maintain stable fiscal policies, raise momentum for economic growth and make sure people understand the means required to financially support the North in order to reduce the gap between the two.
This book was jointly organized and edited by Dr. Hyung-gon Jeong of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and Dr. Gerhard Heimpold of the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH). We believe that this report, which examines numerous social and economic agendas that emerged during the reunification of Germany, will provide truly important reference for both Koreas. It is also our view that it will serve as a stepping-stone to establish policies in regard to South-North exchanges across numerous sectors prior to discussions of reunification. KIEP will continue to work with IWH and contribute its expertise to the establishment of grounds for unification policies.
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Ökonomisches Wachstum in Ostdeutschland seit der Wiedervereinigung: Eine empirische Perspektive
Maike Irrek
Hochschulschrift, Juristische und Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg,
2015
Abstract
Der schleppende Konvergenzprozess zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland und der fortdauernde Produktivitätsrückstand der ostdeutschen Wirtschaft sind die Motivation einer Vielzahl an Studien und Analysen. Öffentliches Sachkapital und Humankapital spielen dabei eine wichtige Rolle. Es liegen jedoch keine passenden Zeitreihen vor, mit deren Hilfe die in der Literatur diskutierten Thesen in empirischen Untersuchungen überprüft werden könnten. Daher werden in der vorliegenden Dissertation das öffentliche und private Sachkapital sowie das Humankapital für Ost-und Westdeutschland geschätzt. Erst mit diesen Daten sind zudem genauere Schätzungen der Totalen Faktorproduktivität in beiden Regionen möglich.
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Kommentar: Umdenken in der Gründungsförderung: Klasse statt Masse und ein langer Atem!
Jutta Günther
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
Nr. 3,
2013
Abstract
Erfolgreiche Gründungen sind ein wichtiger Motor der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung eines Landes oder einer Region. Kurz nach der Wiedervereinigung zeigte sich in den Neuen Ländern eine sehr dynamische Entwicklung der Unternehmensgründungen, die deutlich über dem Niveau Westdeutschlands lag. Dieser Boom ist der „Normalität“ gewichen. Der anfänglich hohe Gründungsbedarf in allen Bereichender Wirtschaft scheint gedeckt, und das Zeitfenster der so genannten günstigen Gelegenheiten ist vorüber.
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Can Korea Learn from German Unification?
Ulrich Blum
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 3,
2011
Abstract
We first analyze pre-unification similarities and differences between the two Germanys and the two Koreas in terms of demographic, social, political and economic status. An important issue is the degree of international openness. “Stone-age” type communism of North Korea and the seclusion of the population prevented inner-Korean contacts and contacts with rest of the world. This may create enormous adjustment costs if institutions, especially informal institutions, change. We go on by showing how transition and integration interact in a potential unification process based on the World Bank Revised Minimum Standard Model (RMSM) and on the Salter-Swan-Meade model. In doing so, we relate the macro and external impacts on an open economy to its macro-sectoral structural dynamics. The findings suggest that it is of utmost importance to relate microeconomic policies to the macroeconomic ties and side conditions for both parts of the country. Evidence from Germany suggests that the biggest general error in unification was neglecting these limits, especially limitations to policy instruments. Econometric analysis supports these findings. In the empirical part, we consider unification as an “investment” and track down the (by-and-large immediate to medium-term) costs and the (by-and-large long-term) benefits of retooling a retarded communist economy. We conclude that, from a South-Korean
perspective, the Korean unification will become relatively much more expensive than the German unification and, thus, not only economic, but to a much larger degree political considerations must include the tying of neighboring countries into the convergence process. We finally provide, 62 years after Germany’s division and 20 years after unification, an outlook on the strength of economic inertia in order to show that it may take much more than a generation to compensate the damage inflicted by the communist system.
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Openness and Growth: The Long Shadow of the Berlin Wall
Claudia M. Buch, Farid Toubal
Journal of Macroeconomics,
Nr. 3,
2009
Abstract
The question whether international openness causes higher domestic growth has been subject to intense discussions in the empirical growth literature. This paper addresses the issue in the context of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. We analyze whether the slow convergence in per capita incomes between East and West Germany and the lower international openness of East Germany are linked. We address the endogeneity of openness by adapting the methodology proposed by Frankel and Romer (1999) to a panel framework. We instrument openness with time-invariant exogenous geographic variables and time-varying exogenous policy variables. We also distinguish the impact of different channels of integration. Our paper has three main findings. First, geographic variables have a significant impact on regional openness. Second, controlling for geography, East German states are less integrated into international markets along all dimensions of integration considered. Third, the degree of openness for trade has a positive impact on regional income per capita.
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Förderung mittels Investitionszulagen in Ostdeutschland fortsetzen? – ein Kommentar
Mirko Titze
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
Nr. 10,
2008
Abstract
Die Bundesregierung hat sich darauf verständigt, die Investitionszulage bis zum Jahr 2013 zu verlängern. Der Fördersatz soll dabei – im Jahr 2010 beginnend – schrittweise verringert werden. Nach dem Jahr 2013 soll die Investitionsförderung in den Neuen Ländern auf die Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur“ konzentriert werden. Die Investitionszulage gehört neben den Investitionszuschüssen im Rahmen der Gemeinschaftsaufgabe „Verbesserung der regionalen Wirtschaftsstruktur“ seit der deutschen Wiedervereinigung hinsichtlich der Mittelausstattung zu den wichtigsten Instrumenten der Investitionsförderung in den Neuen Ländern. Sie spielte hier eine besondere Rolle, da der Kapitalstock nahezu flächendeckend technologisch veraltet und physisch verschlissen war. Der Aufbau eines modernen und leistungsfähigen Kapitalstocks war und ist eine wesentliche Voraussetzung, um überregionale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit im ostdeutschen Unternehmenssektor herzustellen und den Standort aufzuwerten.
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Außenhandel als Wachstumsmotor für Ostdeutschland
Götz Zeddies, Renate Ohr
Wirtschaftsdienst,
Nr. 9,
2007
Abstract
Während in den ersten Jahren nach der Wiedervereinigung die BIP-Zuwächse in Ostdeutschland deutlich höher waren als im Westen, ist der Aufholprozess der neuen Bundesländer seit dem Ende der 90er Jahre etwas ins Stocken geraten. Verantwortlich dafür war in erster Linie die schwache Entwicklung der Binnennachfrage, während die Exporte kräftig zulegten. Der Beitrag untersucht empirisch, welche Exportpotentiale sich für die neuen Bundesländer zukünftig ergeben und kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass der Außenhandel auch in Zukunft als Wachstumsmotor für Ostdeutschland fungieren kann.
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