Andrea Gebauer

Regional Technology Policy and Factors Shaping Local Innovation Networks in Small German Cities

Local innovation networks are considered to be important to innovation and technological change and to growth prospects of regions and cities in Germany. When analysing the local (or regional) innovation system, one should consequently not only investigate horizontal and vertical relations among firms but also the contacts with universities and other research institutions. Furthermore, the role of government agencies and interest groups that provide financial support as well as commercial and technical information should also be taken into account. However, the review of relevant theoretical and empirical investigations related to the German experience shows that such innovation and R&D cooperation networks appear to be less significant than expected. In general various regional technology policy measures adopted in German states (the provision of research infrastructure, establishment of technology centres, innovative small and medium sized enterprises support programmes, etc.) have been more successful in economically better-off large cities than in the rural areas. Apart from offering a critical review of relevant theoretical and empirical research, this study introduces the present regional technology and R&D promotion policies in German states and examines the local innovation systems, taking Landshut as an example.

Can Reform Models of Value Added Taxation Stop the VAT Evasion and Revenue Shortfalls in the EU

Abstract VAT evasion caused by the growth of carousel fraud has recently led to significant VAT revenue losses in the EU. Carousel fraud works such that intra‐EU firms repeatedly carry out cross‐border supply and purchase of goods and services, leading to the fraudulent retention of revenue. This study discusses three reform models of the VAT system in Germany, whose implementation would open up further possibilities for tax evasion and lead to a considerable increase in administrative costs.

VAT Evasion and Its Consequences for Macroeconomic Clearing in the EU

Full movement from the destination principle to the origin principle would lead to changes in VAT revenues in EU countries. Hence a clearing mechanism is necessary to rectify such imbalances. To estimate the relevance of VAT evasion this study quantifies the annual amounts of hypothetical VAT revenues based on national-accounts data. The relation between hypothetical and collected revenues indicates the tax collection performance rate, and this determines the extent of VAT evasion. Macroeconomic clearing is supposed to occur in the EU, based on the national share of hypothetical revenues of the member countries. Yet this system suffers from adverse incentives for individual nations, since those with a higher evasion ratio will gain: For those countries with an above-EU-average evasion rate the sum of apportioned VAT revenues will be larger than the anticipated collected revenues in the case of prevailing current tax practice.