Urban Growth in Germany – The Impact of Localization and Urbanization Economies
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz, Annette Illy, Martin T. W. Rosenfeld
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 19,
2009
Abstract
This study examines the impact of localization and urbanization economies as well as the impact of city size on urban growth in German cities from 2003 to 2007. Although, from a theoretical perspective, agglomeration economies are supposed to have positive impacts on regional growth, prior empirical studies do not show consistent results. Especially little is known about agglomeration economies in Germany, where interregional support policy and the characteristics of the federal system are further determinants of urban growth. The results of the econometric analysis show a U-shaped relationship between specialization and urban growth, which particularly holds for manufacturing industries. We do not find evidence for the impact of Jacobs-externalities; however, city size shows a positive (but decreasing) effect on urban growth.
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Cartel Identification in Spatial Markets: An Analysis of the East German Cement Market
Ulrich Blum
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
2009
Abstract
Im Jahr 2003 wurde die deutsche Zementindustrie wegen vorgeblicher Preis- und Quotenabsprachen mit einer Buße von über 600 Mio. Euro belegt. Im abschließenden gerichtlichen Verfahren des Jahres 2009 wurde die Buße erheblich reduziert, weil das Bundeskartellamt nicht in der Lage war, die Mehrerlöse in der vorgegebenen Höhe nachzuweisen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt anhand des ostdeutschen Zementkartells, das auf Quotenabsprachen aus den neunziger Jahren beruhte und das im Frühjahr 2002 endete, dass dieses ökonomisch nicht wirksam war. Aus Sicht der Beteiligten waren offensichtlich die Kenntnisse der wahren Marktkräfte unbekannt, weshalb das Kartell beibehalten wurde. Auf Grundlage eines räumlichen Ansatzes für die Jahre 1997 bis 2002 wird das regionale Preissetzungsverhalten untersucht. Die ökonometrische Analyse zeigt, dass der Wettbewerb in den Kartelljahren bereits vergleichsweise intensiv war, da Transportkosten und Rabattsysteme verwendet wurden, um Angebote der Marktlage anzupassen. Strategische Importe aus dem Osten ebenso wie Angebote mittelständischer Mahlwerke setzten den Markt unter Druck.
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Is East Germany Catching Up? A Time Series Perspective
Bernd Aumann, Rolf Scheufele
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 14,
2009
Abstract
This paper assesses whether the economy of East Germany is catching up with the
West German region in terms of welfare. While the primary measure for convergence and catching up is per capita output, we also look at other macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment rates, wage rates, and production levels in the manufacturingsector. In contrast to existing studies of convergence between regions of reunified Germany, our approach is purely based upon the time series dimension and is thus directly focused on the catching up process in East Germany as a region. Our testing setup includes standard ADF unit root tests as well as unit root tests that endogenously allow for a break in the deterministic component of the process. In our analysis, we find evidence of catching up for East Germany for most of the indicators. However, convergence speed is slow, and thus it can be expected that the catching up process will take further decades until the regional gap is closed.
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Industry Concentration and Regional Innovative Performance – Empirical Evidence for Eastern Germany
Christoph Hornych, Michael Schwartz
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 8,
2009
Abstract
Regarding technological innovativeness, the transformed economy of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) clearly lags behind the Western part of the country. To face this weakness, a broad mixture of policy measures was carried out in recent years. Particular attention is drawn to the development of industry concentrations and economic ‘clusters’. However, little is known about the effectiveness of these policy measures regarding how industry concentrations in fact promote innovative performance in Eastern Germany. The present study tries to fill this gap by analyzing the relationship between industry concentration in Eastern Germany and regional innovative performance. Our empirical analysis is based upon the number of patent applications of 22 manufacturing industries in 22 Eastern German planning regions. The estimated regression models indicate an inverted U-shaped relationship between the degree of industry concentration and innovative performance. An exceedingly high degree of industry concentration in one region hampers regional innovative output. We discuss policy implications of our findings and give recommendations for future refinement of ‘cluster’-supporting policy schemes in Eastern Germany.
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Are there Gender-specific Preferences for Location Factors? A Grouped Conditional Logit-model of Interregional Migration Flows in Germany
Lutz Schneider, Alexander Kubis
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 5,
2009
Abstract
The article analyses the question whether women and men differ in their tastes for location factors. The question is answered by quantifying the impact of location characteristics on interregional migration flows across Germany. The analysis is based on a grouped conditional logit approach. We augment the framework by controlling for violation of the independence of irrelevant alternatives assumption and for overdispersion. As a result, we find no differences in terms of direction of impact. However, the regressions confirm gender differences in terms of intensity, particularly regarding regional wage levels and the availability of educational institutions.
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The Identification of Regional Industrial Clusters Using Qualitative Input-Output Analysis
Mirko Titze, Matthias Brachert, Alexander Kubis
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 13,
2008
Abstract
The ‘cluster theory’ has become one of the main concepts promoting regional competitiveness, innovation, and growth. As most studies focus on measures of concentration of one industrial branch in order to identify regional clusters, the appropriate analysis of specific vertical relations within a value-adding chain is developing in this discussion. This paper tries to identify interrelated sectors via national input-output tables with the help of Minimal Flow Analysis by Schnabl (1994). The regionalization of these national industry templates is carried out with the allocation of branch-specific production values on regional employment. As a result, the paper shows concentrations of vertical clusters in only 27 of 439 German NUTS-3 regions.
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Determinants of Female Migration – The Case of German NUTS 3 Regions
Alexander Kubis, Lutz Schneider
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 12,
2007
Abstract
Our study examines the regional patterns and determinants of migration flows of young women. At the NUTS-3 regional level, i.e. the district level (Kreise), the German internal migration flows of the year 2005 are explored. From descriptive statistics it can be seen that peripheral regions in East Germany face the strongest migration deficit with respect to young women, whereas agglomerations in West Germany but also in the East benefit from an intense migration surplus within this group. An econometric analysis of determinants of regional migration flows gives evidence of the importance of labour market, family-related and educational migration motives. Generally speaking, young women tend to choose regions with good income and job opportunities, in addition they seem to be attracted by regions enabling an appropriate balance between family and career. Furthermore the existence of excellent educational facilities is a significant influence for young women’s migration. This educationally motivated type of migration generates a long lasting effect on the regional migration balance, especially when the educational opportunities in the destination region are associated with adequate career perspectives for high qualified female graduates. In view of considerable losses due to migration, the study shows various options for action. An important course of action is to incorporate policy measures improving regional employment and income opportunities. Secondly, extending vocational and academic offers addressed to women seems to be a suitable way to stimulate women’s immigration. Moreover, enhancing the social infrastructure, which contributes to a satisfactory work life balance, might attract young women or at least reduce the number of them leaving a region.
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Spillover Effects of Spatial Growth Poles - a Reconciliation of Conflicting Policy Targets?
Alexander Kubis, Mirko Titze, Joachim Ragnitz
IWH Discussion Papers,
Nr. 8,
2007
Abstract
Regional economic policy faces the challenge of two competing policy goals - reducing regional economic disparities vs. promoting economic growth. The allocation of public funds has to weigh these goals particularly under the restriction of scarce financial re- sources. If, however, some region turns out to be a regional growth pole with positive spillovers to its disadvantaged periphery, regional policies could be designed to recon- cile the conflicting targets. In this case, peripheral regions could indirectly participate in the economic development of their growing cores. We start our investigation by defining and identifying such growth poles among German regions on the NUTS 3 administrative level based on spatial and sectoral effects. Using cluster analysis, we determine significant characteristics for the general identification of growth poles. Patterns in the sectoral change are identified by means of the change in the employment. Finally, we analyze whether and to what extent these growth poles ex- ert spatial spillover effects on neighbouring regions and thus mitigate contradictory in- terests in regional public policy. For this purpose, we apply a Spatial-Cross-Regressive- Model (SCR-Model) including the change in the secondary sector which allows to con- sider functional economic relations on the administrative level chosen (NUTS 3).
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Analysis of location of large-area shopping centres - A probalistic gravity model for the Halle-Leipzig area
Alexander Kubis, Maria Hartmann
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft,
Nr. 1,
2007
Abstract
Eine fundierte Analyse großflächiger Einkaufszentren aus der Sicht des Einzelhandels aber auch der Kommunen ist unter dem Blickwinkel der Standortwahl von großer Wichtigkeit. Im mitteldeutschen Raum stellt die Region Halle–Leipzig ein besonderes Beispiel starker Wettbewerbsbeziehungen der verschiedenen Aktionspartner dar. Grundlegend für die in diesem Artikel dargestellte Auswertung ist das MCIModell von Nakanishi und Cooper. Auf seiner Basis werden die regionalen Einflüsse von neun großen Einkaufszentren in der betrachteten Region analysiert. Die Analyse weist nach, dass die untersuchten Großzentren sehr stark die Einzelhandelsstruktur der Region bestimmen und auf Grund ihres relativen Erfolges gegenüber anderen Einzelhandelsstandorten (Innenstädte) einen großen Einfluss auf die Strukturschwäche der umliegenden Städte haben. Ein beträchtliches Umsatzvolumen der Landkreise fließt zu den untersuchten Einkaufszentren ab. Auf der anderen Seite beschreibt dieser Artikel den starken Einfluss einer systematischen Standortwahl auf das erzielbare Umsatzpotenzial der modellierten großflächigen Einkaufszentren untereinander. Die Großzentren Saale Park Günthersdorf (heute Nova Eventis) sowie Paunsdorf Center Leipzig weisen dabei den größten Einfluss auf die Konkurrenzzentren auf.
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Intermediate central communities in Rural Regions - A qualitative instrument for analysis
Alexander Kubis
Теоретические основы и опыт стратегическ,
2006
Abstract
Diese Arbeit untersucht den ländlichen Raum hinsichtlich seiner ökonomischen Potenziale und liefert mittels qualitativer Methoden (Faktoren-, Cluster- und Diskriminanzanalyse) eine verifizierbare Bestimmung spezifische Stärken und Schwächen. Hierbei wurden Gemeindegruppen gesucht und bezüglich ihrer Potenziale eingehend analysiert. Das besondere ist neben der Gemeinde als Untersuchungsebene das Augenmerk auf den Mittelzentren als Bindeglied zwischen Peripherie und Oberzentrum. In den östlichen Bundesländern Deutschlands haben diese Zentren weiterhin einen massiven strukturellen Anpassungsbedarf. Aber auch bei westdeutschen Gemeinden sind spezifische Defizite darstellbar. Die vorgeschlagene Methodik ist innerhalb einer gesamtdeutschen Förderpolitik verallgemeinerbar. Die getroffenen Aussagen haben einen ausreichend statistisch abgesicherten Nachweis.
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