The European Reform Logjam and the Economics of Reform
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The European Reform Logjam and the Economics of Reform
Editors: Straubhaar, Thomas | Winkelmann, Rainer
Applied Economics Quarterly. Supplements, Vol. 55
(2004)
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Abstract
Europa tut sich schwer mit wirtschaftspolitischen Strukturreformen. Oft widersetzen sich vor allem größere EU-Länder ganz dem Druck zur Veränderung, oder es werden nur partielle Reformen durchgeführt. Doch Verzögerungen von Reformen sind mit hohen volkswirtschaftlichen Kosten verbunden: Dazu gehören Wachstums- und Beschäftigungsverluste. Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft deutscher wirtschaftswissenschaftlicher Forschungsinstitute hat darum anlässlich ihrer 67. Wissenschaftlichen Tagung Gründe für und Wege aus dem "Reformstau in Europa" gesucht. Erstmalig wurde die Tagung in Kooperation mit einem anderen Wirtschaftsforschungsinstitut, dem Centre for European Policy Studies (Brüssel), durchgeführt.Druck zum Wandel ergibt sich allein schon aus der demographischen Entwicklung in Europa. Die Alterung der Bevölkerung wird zu weniger Steuereinnahmen für die Staaten und zu geringeren Beiträgen für die Sozialversicherungen führen. Ein Beitrag dieses Heftes widmet sich dem deutschen "Sozialstaatsdilemma".Doch das Thema "Economics of Reform" wird nicht nur themenspezifisch, sondern auch aus einer allgemein theoretischen Perspektive betrachtet. Welche Faktoren erschweren resp. erleichtern wirtschaftspolitische Reformen? Wie kann der Erfolg von Reformen (am Beispiel der Arbeitsmarktpolitik in Deutschland) beurteilt werden? Gibt es einen Reformstau im Gesundheitswesen in Europa? Und warum sind Reformen zur Privatisierung kommunaler Leistungen - trotz Wohlfahrtsgewinnen - in den letzten Jahren zum Stillstand gekommen? Die Referate werden jeweils in einem Korreferat kritisch beleuchtet.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 5 | ||
| Contents | 7 | ||
| Friedrich Heinemann: Explaining Reform Deadlocks | 9 | ||
| Abstract | 9 | ||
| 1. Introduction | 9 | ||
| 2. Reform Obstacles | 11 | ||
| 3. Variables and Descriptive Analysis | 14 | ||
| 4. Econometric Analysis | 20 | ||
| 5. Conclusions | 23 | ||
| References | 24 | ||
| Appendix: List of Variables | 25 | ||
| Mathias Erlei: Explaining Reform Deadlocks - Comment | 27 | ||
| Peter Haug and Martin T. W. Rosenfeld: The Reform of Local Public Services of General Interest in Europe | 31 | ||
| Abstract | 31 | ||
| 1. Introduction | 31 | ||
| 2. The Benefits of a Reduced Supply of Local Public Services | 32 | ||
| 2.1 General Aspects of Welfare Economics of Local Public Activities | 33 | ||
| 2.2 Arguments against Public Production of Local Public Goods and Services | 34 | ||
| 2.2.1 Principal-Agent Problems are More Relevant to Public Production | 34 | ||
| 2.2.2 Incentive Problems for Public Managers | 36 | ||
| 2.2.3 Comparing Governance Costs of Public and Private Production in Natural Monopolies | 37 | ||
| 2.3 Arguments Put Forward by Proponents of Retaining the Status Quo of Local Public Production | 40 | ||
| 3. Explaining the Costs of Institutional Change in the Field of Local Public Services | 43 | ||
| 4. Conclusions | 48 | ||
| References | 49 | ||
| Charles B. Blankart: The Reform of Local Public Services of General Interest in Europe - Comment | 51 | ||
| 1. The Paradox of Deregulation | 51 | ||
| 2. Interest-Group Influence in the Expected Vote Maximization Approach | 52 | ||
| 3. The Role of the European Institutions | 53 | ||
| 4. Globalization and Systems Competition | 54 | ||
| References | 55 | ||
| Viktor Steiner: Social Welfare Reform and the Low-Wage Labor Market in Germany: What Works and What Doesn’t? | 57 | ||
| Abstract | 57 | ||
| 1. Earnings-Related Subsidies, Work Incentives, and Employment in Low-Wage Labor Markets | 59 | ||
| 1.1 Social Assistance and Earnings-Related Subsidies | 60 | ||
| 1.2 Work Incentives and Labor Supply Effects | 61 | ||
| 1.3 Wage Adjustment and Employment | 63 | ||
| 2. The “Agenda 2010” – Will It Work? | 65 | ||
| 2.1 Unemployment Compensation and Social Assistance Reform | 65 | ||
| 2.2 Work Requirements | 67 | ||
| 2.3 The “Mini-Jobs” Reform | 68 | ||
| 2.4 A Preliminary Assessment | 69 | ||
| 3. A Social Welfare Reform That Might Work | 70 | ||
| 3.1 The Reform Proposal | 70 | ||
| 3.2 Improved Work Incentives | 71 | ||
| 3.3 Labor Supply and Employment Effects | 73 | ||
| 4. Implications for Economic Policy | 75 | ||
| References | 76 | ||
| Norbert Berthold: Social Welfare Reform and the Low-Wage Labor Market in Germany: What Works and What Doesn’t? - Comment | 79 | ||
| References | 82 | ||
| Michael Fertig and Jochen Kluve: A Conceptual Framework for the Evaluation of Comprehensive Labor Market Policy Reforms in Germany | 83 | ||
| Abstract | 83 | ||
| 1. Introduction | 84 | ||
| 2. The Hartz Reforms: Establishing the Context of Evaluation | 86 | ||
| 2.1 Objectives of the Hartz Reforms | 86 | ||
| 2.2 Guidelines for a Suitable Evaluation Concept | 87 | ||
| 2.3 Conceptual and Practical Problems of the Evaluation | 93 | ||
| 3. Methodological Framework | 96 | ||
| 3.1 Descriptive Analysis | 97 | ||
| 3.2 Analysis of Effectiveness | 97 | ||
| 3.3 Efficiency Analysis | 101 | ||
| 3.4 Implementation and Process Analysis | 101 | ||
| 3.5 Distinct Features of the Macro Evaluation | 102 | ||
| 4. Evaluation Design | 103 | ||
| 5. Conclusion | 110 | ||
| References | 112 | ||
| Ronnie Schöb: A Conceptual Framework for the Evaluation of Comprehensive Labor Market Policy Reforms in Germany - Comment | 113 | ||
| Theory first! | 114 | ||
| Less modesty! | 115 | ||
| References | 116 | ||
| Rigmar Osterkamp: Health-Care Efficiency in OECD Countries | 117 | ||
| Abstract | 117 | ||
| 1. Introduction | 117 | ||
| 2. A Brief Look at FDH Analysis | 118 | ||
| 3. Selection of Variables and Years | 119 | ||
| 4. Correction of the Variables | 120 | ||
| 5. The Results | 125 | ||
| 6. Summary | 128 | ||
| 7. Agenda for Further Research | 129 | ||
| References | 130 | ||
| Annex 1: FDH Calculations | 132 | ||
| Annex 2: Rankings and Changes of Efficiency | 136 | ||
| Annex 3: Raw Data | 140 | ||
| Annex 4: How to Apply FDH Analysis | 141 | ||
| Peter Zweifel: Health-Care Efficiency in OECD Countries - Comment | 143 | ||
| FDH analysis as one method for establishing an efficient frontier | 143 | ||
| Specification of FDH in the paper | 146 | ||
| Results | 147 | ||
| Concluding remarks | 148 | ||
| References | 148 | ||
| Participants | 151 |