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Eastern Germany in the Process of Catching Up : The Role of Foreign and West German Investors in Technological Renewal

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  • JUTTA GÜNTHER
  • OLIVER GEBHARDT

Abstract

Foreign direct investment (FDI) as a means to support economic transformation and the ongoing process of catch-up development caught researchers' attention for a number of Central and East European countries. Little research, however, has been carried out for eastern Germany in this respect, although FDI plays an important role there too. Descriptive analysis via the use of unique survey data shows that foreign and west German affiliates perform much better with respect to technological capability and labor productivity than do east German firms. The results of the regression analysis, however, show that it is not the status of ownership as such that forms a significant determinant of innovativeness in eastern Germany but, rather, firm characteristics, such as firm size, export intensity, technical state of the equipment, and research and development (R&D) activities. Given that foreign and west German affiliates perform better with respect to all of these characteristics, they can be considered as a means to support the process of technological renewal and economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jutta Günther & Oliver Gebhardt, 2005. "Eastern Germany in the Process of Catching Up : The Role of Foreign and West German Investors in Technological Renewal," Eastern European Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 78-102, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:mes:eaeuec:v:43:y:2005:i:3:p:78-102
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    Cited by:

    1. Hausmann, Ricardo & Neffke, Frank M.H., 2019. "The workforce of pioneer plants," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 628-648.
    2. Jutta Günther & Johannes Stephan & Björn Jindra, 2008. "Foreign Subsidiaries in the East German Innovation System - Evidence from Manufacturing Industries," Applied Economics Quarterly (formerly: Konjunkturpolitik), Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 59(Supplemen), pages 137-172.
    3. Harald Bathelt, 2013. "Post-Reunification Restructuring and Corporate Re-bundling in the Bitterfeld-Wolfen Chemical Industry, East Germany," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 1456-1485, July.

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