Chang Woon Nam
Articles
Geographia Polonica (2000) vol. 73, iss. 1, pp. 77-94 | 
Full text
Abstract
Due mainly to rapidly diversifying and expanding urban activities in an en-larged Europe and also partly to the continued decrease in local tax revenue in recent years, large German cities are currently suffering from the lack of financial means to cover increas-ing expenditure needs. In this context, they argue that the German-style method of intergov-ernmental fiscal transfer and resource allocation applied in practice do not adequately con-sider the particular socio-economic conditions in large cities. This study compares the Ger-man way of measuring local expenditure needs with other empirical methods implemented in countries like Norway and Japan and introduces its reform alternatives. Additionally the study examines some significant socio-economic determinants from the point of view of the large German cities.
Keywords: local expenditure needs, Germany, large cities, socio-economic determinants for urban development
, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Poschinger Str. 5. 81679 Munich, Germany
Geographia Polonica (1999) vol. 72, iss. 1, pp. 63-88 | Full text
Abstract
The network characteristics are now considered of particular importance to innovation and technological change and to the growth prospects of regions. According to this idea, innovation is a process which results from various interactions among a number of actors in a given region. Such economic (and social) links can be considered 'intangible capital' that has durability, is created by means of an investment effort but deteriorates if not maintained. Although firms generally play the central role in these interactions, a network with other scientific and public institutions has significantly contributed to their R&D and innovation successes as well as to organisational change. Consequently, when analysing a regional innovation system, one should not only investigate the (horizontal and vertical) relations among firms but also the contacts with universities and other research institutions, as well as technology centres, which make the diffusion of technological know-how possible. Furthermore, the role of the government agencies, support companies and interest groups which provide the commercial, technical and information support, as well as of the financial lending bodies, should also be taken into account in the context of the regional innovation system. Apart from offering a critical review of already-existing theoretical and empirical research, this study introduces the present regional technology and R&D promotion policies in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, and examines the distinctive characteristics of the local innovation systems, emphasising the interaction and networking among the major actors mentioned above. For these purposes, two areas - Landshut (in Bavaria) and Bochum (North Rhine-Westphalia) - are selected for case study.
Keywords: local innovation network, regional technology policy, Germany, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Landshut, Bochum
, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Poschinger Str. 5. 81679 Munich, Germany