Research Activities at the Centre

Research Projects

Research Activities at the Centre

The Centre for International Economic Relations (ZIW) is a central part of the University of Leipzig. Founded in 1987 to promote research in the field of East-West economic relations, the ZIW was completely reorganized in 1992/1993. Since then, the research subjects of the Centre have been the transition from central planned to market economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the integration of Central and Eastern European countries into the EU and the deepening and widening of the EU. In addition to the economic changes, analyses focus on the political and historical framework of transition as well, the social and cultural implications, and the cohesion process in CEE countries.

Research activities are based on interdisciplinary approaches. They take place in the context of project groups, which normally exist for 3-5 years. Researchers come from different faculties of the University of Leipzig and from CEE-oriented institutes in Germany and CEE countries, especially from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia and Russia. Students and graduate students are encouraged to take part in research projects. A special feature of ZIW activities is the cooperation between academic researchers and experts from business, politics, and administration.

The centre organises the annual Leipziger Weltwirtschaftsseminar, an international conference on special aspects of economic integration of CEE countries into the EU.

Results of the research and proceedings of the annual conferences are published in the ZIW’s series “Transformation. Leipziger Beiträge zu Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft” (ISSN 0947-0379).

Research Projects

1. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Service Sector in the German-Czech Border Region
2. The Enlarged European Union between Coherence and Divergence
3. Labour Markets in the Enlarged EU
4. The Situation and the Role of Large Cities in the Processes of Transformation and Globalization.
5. European Monetary Integration and International Role of the Euro 6. Structural Reforms in Germany and Europe

1. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Service Sector in the German-Czech Border Region: Competitiveness and Prospects – an Initiative for Further Education for the Small and Medium Sized Service Sector

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenk (lenk@wifa.uni-leipzig.de),
Dr. Cornelie Kunze (ckunze@rz.uni-leipzig.de),
Mario Hesse,
Dr. Milan Jerábek (University of Ustí, milanjerabek@iol.cz)

The German-Czech border region is an area with different structures on both sides. While on the Czech side large-scale industries (brown coal mining and chemical industries) are still dominating (most coal mines will close down within the next 20-40 years), large-scale industries on the Saxonian side  have been replaced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), often in the service sector, during the transition processes after 1990. Competitiveness is low. The whole region suffers from its peripheral position. As a result of the missing dynamic of the East-German economy, the wage differential between the Czech and Saxionian side of the border does not drive development in this area. Both sides of the region show high unemployment as well as persistent migration. In this situation the saving and upgrading of existent enterprises has high priority. The aim of this project is to analyse the situation of SME in the service sector on both sides of the Euroregion Erzgebirge/Krusnohory (development potential, barriers and challenges of cross border cooperation) and to offer policy advice as well as specially designed training for entrepreneurs.

2. The Enlarged European Union between Coherence and Divergence

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenk (lenk@wifa.uni-leipzig.de)
Dr. Cornelie Kunze (ckunze@rz.uni-leipzig.de)

The EU-enlargements of 2004 und 2007 have irrevocably changed the character of the EU. Starting as a more or less homogenous group of six countries, the EU now consists of two groups: The first group consists of the wealthy West European economies (net payers), which have difficulties generating economic growth, creating employment and ensuring social coherence, while the second group consists of the poorer but fast growing countries from Southern, Central and Eastern Europe (net recipients). During the last two years, a number of conflicting interests between the two groups has been noticed, for instance in tax policy (tax competition between EU members), fiscal policy and budget composition of the EU, i.e. all intrinsic fields of EU integration. The aim of this project is to review the coherence of political, economic and social objectives of the EU as well as to analyse differences between “old” and “new” EU member states in order to recognise conflicts and to discuss applicable common policies.

3. Labour Markets in the Enlarged EU

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenk (lenk@wifa.uni-leipzig.de),
Dr. Cornelie Kunze (ckunze@rz.uni-leipzig.de),
Prof. Dr. Rolf Hasse, Fraunhofer Mittel- und Osteuropa-Zentrum Leipzig,
Dr. Matthew Allen, Metropolitan University Manchester,
Dr. Dierk Hirschel, DGB Bundesvorstand,
Dr. Hans-Peter Klös, IW Köln,
Dr. Michael Thiel, EU-Kommission,
Prof. Dr. Zenon Wiesniewski, University of Torun,
Prof. Dr. Jüri Sepp, University of Tartu/Estonia,
Prof. Dr. Werner Sesselmeier/ Gabriele Somaggio, University of Koblenz-Landau

Labour markets in the EU diverge considerably corresponding to different national traditions in social organisation. After the EU enlargement only a few EU 15 member states opened their markets immediately for labour migration from CEEC (UK, Ireland, Sweden). The majority of the original member states have imposed restrictions on their employment and welfare systems driven by fears of large-scale labour migration from Central and Eastern Europe, some of them liberalising access meanwhile. The project analyses the development in national labour markets of different types of regulation and adjustment controls (Poland, Estonia, UK and Germany) during the last years with a focus on empirical data on employment, migration, wage differentiation and unemployment. Another focus is the efficiency of national labour market policies faced with internationalised markets on the one hand and protective tendencies, imbalanced social systems and budget problems, on the other hand.

4. The Situation and the Role of Large Cities in the Processes of Transformation and Globalization. A Comparative Study of the Economic and Social Development in Leipzig and Wroclaw from 2000 to 2004.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenk (lenk@wifa.uni-leipzig.de),
Dr. Cornelie Kunze (ckunze@rz.uni-leipzig.de),
Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Kurcz (Universität Wroclaw, Polen),
Prof. K. Lange,
Prof. U. Heilemann,
Prof. R. Wießner,
Prof. H. Schmidt,
Dr. D. Drechsel (Communal Office of Statistics Leipzig)

Research in the field of economic transition is almost done either on the national level or in single sectors and branches. This project analyses the effects of political and economic transition, European integration and globalization processes on the situation and role of large cities employing the case studies Leipzig (East Germany) and Wroclaw (Poland). Large cities give an image of the complex transformation processes, showing the interdependency between the local and national economy, democratisation on the municipal and national level and socials processes. The current project is the third study within a long-term project starting in 1994. The aim of the project is to analyse convergent and divergent developments in both cities and to identify the driving forces for economic growth and restructuring.

5. European Monetary Integration and International Role of the Euro

Prof. Dr. Gunther Schnabl (schnabl@wifa.uni-leipzig.de),
Dipl.-Vw. Christina Ziegler (ziegler@wifa.uni-leipzig.de)

We analyse the impact of the E(M)U membership of the Central and Eastern European countries on the respective financial sectors, exchange rate and wage policies. In particular, the costs and benefits of exchange rate stability against the Euro and of EMU accession are scrutinised. A further focus is on the international role of the Euro in Europe.

6. Structural Reforms in Germany and Europe

Prof. Dr. Gunther Schnabl (schnabl@wifa.uni-leipzig.de),
Dipl.-Vw. Holger Zemanek (zemanek@wifa.uni-leipzig.de)

Globalization and demographic change are contributing to a changing economic environment in Europe. The pressure for structural reforms is increasing. As European countries have responded differently to the new challenges in economic policy-making, economic growth, unemployment rates and fiscal conditions are diverging. We analyse the reform process in Germany in the context of German reunification and the European (monetary) integration.