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Sectoral Diversification as Insurance against Economic Instability

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  • Jan Kluge

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which sectoral diversification can act as an insurance mechanism against fluctuations in regional gross value added growth rates. I apply portfolio theory to the growth-instability properties of German districts. Furthermore, I define a comprehensive diversification measure and use Stochastic Frontier Analysis in order to estimate whether diversification allows regions to achieve more efficient growth-instability combinations, i.e., greater stability at given levels of economic growth. The results confirm that diversification does generate such effects. Spatial interactions do also play a role: The effects are less pronounced for regions whose economic performance is mainly driven by the surrounding regions.

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  • Jan Kluge, 2015. "Sectoral Diversification as Insurance against Economic Instability," ifo Working Paper Series 206, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifowps:_206
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jan Kluge & Sarah Lappöhn & Kerstin Plank, 2023. "Predictors of TFP growth in European countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 50(1), pages 109-140, February.
    3. Jan Kluge, 2018. "Eine diversifizierte Wirtschaft als Versicherung gegen Krisen," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 25(05), pages 21-26, October.
    4. Bigerna, Simona & Bollino, Carlo Andrea & Polinori, Paolo, 2021. "Oil import portfolio risk and spillover volatility," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Xin Mai & Roger C. K. Chan, 2020. "Detecting the intellectual pathway of resilience thinking in urban and regional studies: A critical reflection on resilience literature," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 876-889, September.
    6. Kurt A. Hafner, 2020. "Diversity of industrial structure and economic stability: evidence from Asian gross value added," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 413-441, June.
    7. M. Yu. Malkina, 2022. "The Resilience of the Russian Regional Economies to the 2020 Pandemic," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 309-320, September.
    8. Marina Malkina, 2019. "How Change in Industry Mix Can Improve the Financial Performance of Regional Economies: Evidence from the Portfolio Approach," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 67(6), pages 1561-1575.
    9. Marina Yurievna Malkina, 2018. "Instability of Financial Return of Regional Economies and Its Determinants," Spatial Economics=Prostranstvennaya Ekonomika, Economic Research Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Khabarovsk, Russia), issue 3, pages 88-114.
    10. Raphaelle G. Coulombe & Akhil Rao, 2023. "Fires and Local Labor Markets," Papers 2308.02739, arXiv.org.
    11. Kluge, Jan & Lappoehn, Sarah & Plank, Kerstin, 2020. "The Determinants of Economic Competitiveness," IHS Working Paper Series 24, Institute for Advanced Studies.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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