Qualitätswettbewerb, Produktinnovationen und Schumpetersche Prozesse in internationalen Märkten

An analysis of the international trade structures of OECD countries shows that between these countries primarily high-tech products are traded; moreover, since 2006 the share of imports in the GDP of China has reduced, which in turn indicates the new capabilities of China, i.e. that Chinese firms are capable of producing high quality products with a growing share of national value-added inputs. The result of this, with a broad international focus, is the finding that competition in terms of quality, product innovations and Schumpeterian dynamics play an increasingly important role in the context of international markets. This gives rise to the particular interest in an analysis of the role of lead markets and quality-competition, respectively, on the one hand, on the other hand macroeconomic perspectives should be demonstrated, which indicate product innovations in a new way and appear to be relevant for an assessment of stability policy. Furthermore, the economic policy implications will be discussed.