This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Das deutsche Rätsel

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Sinn, Hans-Werner
Abstract

The article advances the hypothesis that Germany is unable to increase its gains from trade despite increasing trading volumes. High and rigid German wages argely result from the minimum wage constraint imposed by a welfare state that offers generous replacement incomes. Confronted by low-wage competition from post-communist countries, Germany overspecializes in capital intensive goods, which creates a pathological export boom in terms of added value produced in exports. In addition, the country overspecializes in downstream activities, which implies that export quantities grow faster than value added. The reasons which induce extremely high exports are the same as those which cause unemployment to rise and the economy to stagnate.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/950/1/sinn-das-deutsche-raetsel.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function:
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Munich, Department of Economics in its series Discussion Papers in Economics with number 950.

Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Length:
Date of creation: 2006
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenec:950

Contact details of provider:
Postal: Schackstr. 4, D-80539 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)89-2180-2219
Fax: +49-(0)89-2180-3900
Web page: http://www.vwl.uni-muenchen.de
More information through EDIRC

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Ekkehart Schlicht).

Related research
Keywords:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Arbeitsgemeinschaft deutscher wirtschaftswissenschaftlicher Forschungsinstitute, 2004. "Die Lage der Weltwirtschaft und der deutschen Wirtschaft im Frühjahr 2004," Ifo Schnelldienst, Ifo Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 57(08), pages 03-46, 09. [Downloadable!]
  2. Brecher, Richard A, 1974. "Minimum Wage Rates and the Pure Theory of International Trade," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 88(1), pages 98-116, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Anonymous, 2004. "Die Lage der Weltwirtschaft und der deutschen Wirtschaft im Fruhjahr 2004," Report Series 26111, Hamburg Institute of International Economics. [Downloadable!]
Full references

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? IDEAS was launched in September 1997.

This page was last updated on 2009-10-30.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.