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Developing Eastern Germany: The Effects of Economics Promotion in the Eastern German States after Reunification

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  • Kölling Arnd

    (HWR Berlin School of Economics and Law, Alt-Friedrichsfelde 60, 10315 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of public funding on the performance of establishments in Eastern Germany. Using data from the German Institute for Employment Research (IAB) Establishment Panel from 1996 through 2012, the effect of economic promotion in the eastern part of Germany is studied on a number of indicators that provide insight into the topic. For this purpose, conditional difference-in-differences estimators were derived using a propensity score matching approach. Treated establishments in the area of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) invested more, had a higher value added and requested more labour than untreated firms when the amount of public funding is considered. However, on average, establishments with a history of previous investments also receive more funding than establishments that do not receive promotion. Also, some of the results are not permanent, such as the share of investment. Other effects of economic promotion in Germany include increases in wages, but these effects are rather small when compared to the size of the economic promotion. In addition, outcome for firms’ productivity is always insignificant and close to zero.

Suggested Citation

  • Kölling Arnd, 2016. "Developing Eastern Germany: The Effects of Economics Promotion in the Eastern German States after Reunification," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 236(2), pages 275-295, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:236:y:2016:i:1:p:242-275
    DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2015-1009
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Eastern Germany; subsidies; evaluation; labour demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis

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