Lutz Schneider

Regional Migration, Growth and Convergence – A Spatial Dynamic Panel Model of Germany

Kubis A. and Schneider L. Regional migration, growth and convergence – a spatial dynamic panel model of Germany, Regional Studies. This paper empirically analyses the question of how regional migration affects regional convergence and growth in post-reunification Germany. Addressing the endogeneity of migration and human capital, a dynamic panel data model within the framework of β-convergence is applied, accounting for spatial effects. The regressions indicate that out-migration has a negative but modest effect on regional growth; the expected effect of skill selection is only partly confirmed. In the East German subsample, in-migration increases growth independently of its human capital effect; in West Germany, in-migration lowers growth per se, but this negative impact is offset by the growth-stimulating forces of migrants’ skills.

Do diasporas affect regional knowledge transfer within host countries? A panel analysis of German R&D collaborations

ABSTRACT Interactive regional learning involving various actors is considered a precondition for successful innovations and, hence, for regional development. Diasporas as non-native ethnic groups are regarded as beneficial since they enrich the creative class by broadening the cultural base and introducing new routines. Using data on research and development (R&D) collaboration projects, the analysis provides tentative evidence that the size of diasporas positively affects the region’s share of outward R&D linkages enabling the exchange of knowledge. The empirical analysis further confirms that these interactions mainly occur between regions hosting the same diasporas, pointing to a positive effect of ethnic proximity rather than ethnic diversity.

Selektivität, soziale Bindung und räumliche Mobilität

Selectivity, social ties and spatial mobility. An analysis of preferences for return migration to East Germany. In the public debate, brain drain from East Germany is supposed to be the most critical trend regarding the development and catching up of the New Länder. Therefore, potential for in- and re-migration has attracted much attention at least in the political context. Our contribution analyses the remigration potential on basis of data from a DFG research project focussing on the re-migration intentions of people formerly emigrated from Saxony-Anhalt. The analysis concentrates on the following aspects: the effect of job market success after emigration; the impact of social ties to the origin and the host region and on the selectivity of re-migration preferences. The econometric results confirm several expected effects: On the one hand an individual’s job market success reduces the intention to return. Likewise, the re-migration preference increases for people whose expectations were disappointed. On the other hand, the relevance of social ties to the origin region for re-migration dispositions is confirmed by the estimations. Yet, regarding selectivity of re-migration preferences in terms of human capital econometric results are somewhat ambiguous.