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on German Papers |
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Issue of 2009‒06‒03
eight papers chosen by Roberto Cruccolini Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen |
| By: | Jürg Schweri (EHB Schweiz); Barbara Müller (EHB Schweiz) |
| Abstract: | Anhand des Jugend-Längsschnittdatensatzes TREE auf der Basis der PISA-2000-Erhebung untersuchen wir das Vorkommen, die Gründe und Auswirkungen von Berufswechseln im Übergang von der Lehre in den Arbeitsmarkt. Rund 9 Prozent der Lehrabsolventen, welche ein Jahr nach Lehrabschluss erwerbstätig sind, arbeiten in einem erheblich anderen Beruf als dem erlernten. Als wichtigste Einflussfaktoren auf diese Berufswechsel erweisen sich die Charakteristika des erlernten Berufs wie Anforderungsniveau und Arbeitslosigkeit im Beruf sowie die Zufriedenheit mit der Ausbildung. Wenig Einfluss haben der persönliche Hintergrund und die Fähigkeiten der Absolvierenden, gemessen an den Lehrabschlussnoten und den PISA-Testscores. Die Berufswechsler/-innen verdienen im Schnitt rund 5 Prozent weniger als jene, die auf dem erlernten Beruf arbeiten. Dies weist darauf hin, dass in der beruflichen Grundbildung eine Spezialisierung stattfindet; das erworbene berufsspezifische Humankapital wird bei einer Tätigkeit im erlernten Beruf vom Arbeitsmarkt vergütet. Allerdings sind die Lohnwirkungen von Berufswechseln nicht einheitlich. Im Schnitt verdienen Berufswechsler/-innen zudem signifikant mehr als Ungelernte. Vergleicht man dual und vollschulisch ausgebildete Lernende, zeigt sich bei letzteren ein generell leicht tieferer Lohn sowie eine höhere Wahrscheinlichkeit, den Beruf zu wechseln. Nach Berufswechseln zeigen sich für die beiden Gruppen im Schnitt keine Lohnunterschiede mehr. |
| Keywords: | Berufsbildung, duales System, Berufswechsel, Stellenwechsel, PISA, Übergang Schule-Arbeit |
| JEL: | J24 J3 J62 I21 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iso:educat:0044&r=ger |
| By: | Albers, Felicitas (Department of Economics of the Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences); Pagel, Sven (Department of Economics of the Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences); Peters, Horst |
| Abstract: | Die Fachhochschule Düsseldorf hat im Auftrag der Rheinbahn AG, Betreiber der städtischen Bahnen und Busse in Düsseldorf und umliegender Region, die Studie „Wahrnehmung und Image der Rheinbahn AG im Bewusstsein der Öffentlichkeit“ durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse der Studie stützen sich auf insgesamt ca. 2400 telefonische und schriftliche Befragungen im Zeitraum zwischen November 2007 und November 2008. Zwei Fragenkomplexe stehen im Vordergrund der Untersuchung: "Welches differenzierte Image hat das Angebot der Rheinbahn in den Köpfen der Zielgruppen?" und "Welche Schlussfolgerungen ziehen die Gutachter aus diesen Befunden im Hinblick auf eine positive Beeinflussung des Images der Rheinbahn?" Der vorliegende Forschungsbericht dokumentiert die Ergebnisse der empirischen Untersuchung und enthält die gutachterliche Stellungnahme der mit der Durchführung der Studie beauftragten Autoren. Abstract english: Fachhochschule Düsseldorf was commissioned by Rheinbahn AG, operator of local trains and buses in and around Dusseldorf, to conduct a survey entitled "Public Perception and Image of the Rheinbahn". The results of the survey are based on a total of about 2400 entries submitted by telephone and in writing, collected between November 2007 and November 2008. Two sets of questions were eminent in the survey: "What differenciated image does Rheinbahn's offering have in the minds of the target groups?" and "What conclusion do experts draw from these results with regard to positively influencing Rheinbahn's image?" This research report documents the results of the empirical survey and includes the expert opinion of the author's commissioned to conduct the survey. |
| Keywords: | Public transport, Rheinbahn AG, Image |
| JEL: | R41 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ddf:wpaper:fobe10&r=ger |
| By: | Sven Pagel (Department of Economics of the Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences); Sebastian Goldstein (Department of Economics of the Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences) |
| Abstract: | in german: Diese Untersuchung von Video-Stellenanzeigen in Online-Jobportalen fokussiert zwei zentrale Aspekte der Bewegtbildkommunikation: einerseits die Nutzung und andererseits die Wirkung von Videos auf Websites. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine qualitative Blickregistrierungsanalyse mit 20 Studierenden aus drei unterschiedlichen Fachbereichen durchgeführt. Bei diesen Probanden handelt es sich um zehn weibliche und zehn männliche Studierende in Abschlusssemestern. Ihnen wurden Stellenanzeigen der jeweiligen Studienrichtung präsentiert, so dass von einem thematischen Interesse der potenziellen Bewerber ausgegangen werden kann. Zur Identifikation des Nutzungsverhaltens wurde ein idealtypischer Nutzungsprozess von Videos (Wahrnehmung, Verarbeitung und Interaktion) herausgearbeitet. Bei dieser explorativen Studie wurden sowohl Blickdaten mit Hilfe eines benutzerorientierten Testverfahrens als auch Befragungsdaten mit Hilfe eines Fragebogens erhoben. Diese Studie soll somit erste qualitative Erkenntnisse zur Bewegtbild-Nutzung auf Websites im Rahmen der Marketingkommunikation liefern. Um eine möglichst reale Situation zu erzielen, wurden den Probanden echte Online-Jobportale präsentiert. Ein kontrollierter Vergleich einzelner Gestaltungsmerkmale der Websites bzw. der Videos ist somit nicht angestrebt. Es werden wichtige Erkenntnisse u.a. zur hohen Ablehnung von Autostart-Videos generiert. Und Stellenanzeigen mit Bewegtbild erzielen eine systematisch höhere Erinnerung. Des Weiteren werden differenzierte Aussagen zu kognitiven, emotionalen und konativen Wirkungen der Videos in Jobbörsen getroffen. In english: The increasing implementation of moving images on websites and online presentations necessitates specific research regarding aspects of usability and cognitive perceptions. On basis of its intrinsic raison d'être moving images can be differentiated in original and additive videos. In web based media services original videos can be interpreted as their core products. In contrast, additive motion graphics can be defined as on top content which may enrich the existing information portfolio. As motion can be seen as the key activator of the human visual awareness, additive video content can also have a distractive effect on cognition. In addition to the differentiation of motion graphics in original and additive videos, the role of motion graphics in the media and marketing communication will be analyzed. The core focus of this study is to analyse the perception, usage and effects of motion graphics in online career and recruitment portals. Furthermore, a model of the video awareness und interaction process will be developed. 20 students/ applicants from three different departments took part at this eyetracking study. Thus, employed methods are eyetracking studies and accompanying interviews with test persons. |
| Keywords: | video-content, job-offers, career and recruitment portals, usability, eyetracking |
| JEL: | C12 M12 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ddf:wpaper:fobe11&r=ger |
| By: | Vasily Astrov (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw); Josef Pöschl (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw) |
| Abstract: | GERMAN: Die mittel- und osteuropäischen Länder (MOEL) sind spätestens seit September 2008 von der Krise der Weltwirtschaft ebenfalls betroffen. Vor allem die Industrieproduktion und der Außenhandel leiden unter den Folgen des Nachfrageeinbruchs. Das reale BIP-Wachstum verlangsamte sich zunächst deutlich und dürfte mittlerweile in fast allen Ländern von einem Rückgang abgelöst worden sein. Die Verschlechterung der Wirtschaftslage bewirkte eine deutliche Erhöhung der Arbeitslosigkeit. Die öffentlichen und die privaten Haushalte sowie die Unternehmen und Banken stehen unter Druck, der zunehmen wird, sollte die Weltwirtschaftskrise von längerer Dauer sein. Die Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Ländern sind jedoch substantiell, da in jedem Land spezielle krisenabschwächende oder -verstärkende Faktoren eine Rolle spielen. Gravierend dürfte die Rezession in jenen Ländern ausfallen, die durch hohe makroökonomische Ungleichgewichte gekennzeichnet sind (Ungarn, baltische Länder) oder eine rückständige Exportstruktur aufweisen (Ukraine). ---- ENGLISH: The current global financial and economic crisis has been spilling over to the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). After several years of economic prosperity in most of these countries, activities of the real economy have slowed down. The crisis has reached the region on two tracks. More difficult and costly access to borrowing (first track) exerts a negative impact on private consumption, especially with regard to demand for durable consumer goods, such as cars, on private investment (both in construction and equipment), and, finally, on foreign trade. At the same time, CEE exports are suffering from the recession in the EU 15 (second track), above all in Germany, the main trading partner for most of the CEECs. Industrial output and export data both reflect the depth of the economic downturn. Inflation had been on the rise up to mid-2008, but decelerated afterwards, with cases of zero month-on-month inflation frequently seen in CEECs. At least, this is true for euro countries and countries with a fixed currency peg. In others, the currency depreciated after September 2008, which also led to significant real depreciation. CEECs with notoriously large current-account deficits are in a dilemma, as sources of external financing have become scarce. The same is true for countries where a wide gap between interest rates for domestic and foreign borrowing had seduced the private sector to accumulate large volumes of debt denominated in foreign currency. Governments were bound by fiscal discipline in recent years, but deficits will increase in 2009 and 2010 in an environment of low revenues, high expenditures and high unemployment. Apart from Russia, these countries have only limited means to implement economic stimulus packages. As internal sources will not be able to generate a great deal of additional demand, the CEECs will have to wait for spillovers from an improving business climate in the rest of the world. |
| Keywords: | transitional economies, comparative study, economic growth, fiscal and monetary policy, macroeconomic forecast, macroeconomic analysis |
| JEL: | P2 O57 E17 O4 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wii:ratpap:rpg:2009:05&r=ger |
| By: | Carsten Sauer; Katrin Auspurg; Thomas Hinz; Stefan Liebig |
| Abstract: | In the 2008 Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) Pretest, the factorial survey method was tested for the first time for use in the SOEP longitudinal study. In this paper, we describe the construction and application of the vignette module, which has its origins in the field of justice research and is used in particular in the measurement of income justice. We show that the factorial survey method is applicable in large-scale survey research when taking certain constraints into account, and that respondents of varying ages and educational groups are able to deal sufficiently well with answering the questions. The results obtained suggest that older respondents tend to take fewer dimensions into consideration in forming their opinions. Further studies will be needed to determine whether this is evidence that the evaluation tasks were too complex for these respondents and should thus be interpreted as a method effect, or whether it represents a valid substantive result. The results of the study demonstrate convincingly that alongside occupation, education, and performance¿factors relating directly to employment¿familial aspects such as civil status, the partner¿s employment status, and number of children constitute important criteria for determining what constitutes a ¿fair¿ income. The factor survey in the 2008 SOEP Pretest offers diverse analytical potential, both from a methodological point of view and in terms of the empirical results obtained. The positive experience with the 2008 SOEP Pretest suggests that the SOEP vignette module can be used effectively in a future wave of the main SOEP survey. |
| JEL: | C81 D63 J31 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp189&r=ger |
| By: | Peichl, Andreas (IZA); Pestel, Nico (IZA); Schneider, Hilmar (IZA) |
| Abstract: | In Germany, two observations can be tracked over the past 15 to 20 years: First, income inequality has constantly increased while, second, the average household size has been declining dramatically. The analysis of income distribution relies on equivalence-weighted incomes, which take into account household size. Therefore, there is an obvious link between these two developments. The aim of the paper is to quantify how the trend towards smaller households has influenced the change in income inequality. It appears that inequality would also have increased without this demographic trend. But its level would be noticeably lower than it actually is. |
| Keywords: | demography, income inequality, inequality decomposition, household structure, SOEP, Germany |
| JEL: | D31 D63 I30 J11 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4197&r=ger |
| By: | Marcel Erlinghagen; Tim Stegmann |
| Abstract: | In contrast to the vast body of data on immigration to Germany, there is almost no scientifically valid data available on emigration flows from Germany and the factors motivating people to emigrate. In particular, there is an almost total lack of data on the living conditions of emigrants after their arrival in their new home countries. It is thus unsurpising that the German emigration research is currently based mainly on aggregated emigration data from official statistical sources as well as on non-representative quantitative and qualitative studies of specific emigrant groups. This was the point of departure for the pilot project “Life outside Germany,” which attempted to follow Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) participants who left Germany between 2002 and 2006, with the central aim of obtaining information about these individuals’ motivations for leaving and their living conditions in their new home countries. The project succeeded in locating 67 of the 288 former SOEP respondents who had been identified as emigrants. These individuals were sent the specially designed questionnaire by mail, and a total of 32 interviews were completed and returned. The present study starts by presenting the empirical findings from the pilot study. The main problem of the analysis lies less in the (controllable) selectivity of the respondents (32 of 288), and more the (still) extremely low case numbers, which do not allow scientifically sound conclusions to be drawn from the results. A further aim of this paper is therefore to provide an example of the basic research potential that lies in emigrant surveys, particularly in surveying SOEP respondents who have moved abroad. Linking information before and after the point of emigration creates new possibilities for empirical life-course research, which in turn—from an understanding of migration as a fundamentally open-ended process—open up new empirical perspectives for migration research. |
| Keywords: | SOEP, migration, emigration, emigrants, Germany |
| JEL: | C81 F22 J61 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp193&r=ger |
| By: | Sabine Freye |
| Abstract: | The German Federal States have little impact on their budget. Both, revenues and ex-penditures, are basically determined by federal and European law. For a long time, this situation has been causing increasing debts. Today, public debts are again a top issue. The planned federal “debt brake” includes a gradual reduction and an interdiction of structural debts as from 2020. In a short perspective, this means an additional financial limitation to the public budgets. With regard to the described situation, the main question of this paper is: Do the German states actually have financial scope to realize the implementation of the planned “debt brake”? The analyses show that the financial scope for reducing their structural debts is particularly small in the five Federal States benefitting from additional transfers as from 2010. The highest budget restrictions do show the city states Berlin and Bremen. |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwh:dispap:12-09&r=ger |