Kiel Institute for the World Economy

About: Kiel Institute for the World Economy is a facility organization based out in Kiel, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Foreign direct investment & Productivity. The organization has 318 authors who have published 1909 publications receiving 42832 citations. The organization is also known as: Institut für Weltwirtschaft an der Universität Kiel.

Boda-bodas Rule: Non-agricultural Activities and Their Inequality Implications in Western Kenya

Abstract: Engagement in non-agricultural activities in rural areas can be classified into survival-led or opportunity-led. Survival-led diversification would decrease inequality by increasing the incomes of poorer households and thus reduce poverty. By contrast, opportunity-led diversification would increase inequality and have a minor effect on poverty, as it tends to be confined to non-poor households. Using data from Western Kenya, we confirm the existence of the differently motivated diversification strategies. Yet, the poverty and inequality implications differ somewhat from our expectations. Our findings indicate that in addition to asset constraints, rural households also face limited or relatively risky high-return opportunities outside agriculture. JEL classification: Q12, O17, I31

Outsourcing, Importing and Innovation: Evidence from Firm-level Data for Emerging Economies

Abstract: This paper investigates two sourcing strategies of firms, outsourcing and importing, and links these to innovation activities. The authors examine this empirically using firm-level data for 28 emerging market economies and find robust evidence that outsourcing increases the likelihood to spend on R&D and via this channel raises innovation output, whereas importing increases innovation output, but not R&D. The results hold when implementing an instrumental variables approach. It is found that results crucially depend on the institutional environment in the economy, e.g. property rights and intellectual property rights protection. The results suggest that better institutions magnify the gains from importing, but not from outsourcing. EU countries also reap additional positive innovation effects from importing compared with non-EU countries.

Advancing the Water Footprint into an Instrument to Support Achieving the SDGs – Recommendations from the “Water as a Global Resources” Research Initiative (GRoW)

Abstract: The water footprint has developed into a widely-used concept to examine water use and resulting local impacts caused during agricultural and industrial production. Building on recent advancements in the water footprint concept, it can be an effective steering instrument to support, inter alia, achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) - SDG 6 in particular. Within the research program “Water as a Global Resource” (GRoW), an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research, a number of research projects currently apply and enhance the water footprint concept in order to identify areas where water is being used inefficiently and implement practical optimization measures (see imprint for more information). With this paper, we aim to raise awareness on the potential of the water footprint concept to inform decision-making in the public and private sectors towards improved water management and achieving the SDGs.

Management Practices and Productivity in Germany

Abstract: Basierend auf Daten der Studie "German Management and Organizational Practices" (GMOP) werden betriebsspezifische Management-Scores berechnet, welche als Indikator fur die Managementqualitat in deutschen Betrieben interpretiert werden konnen. Es zeigen sich substantielle Unterschiede in der Nutzung von Managementpraktiken, wobei kleine Betriebe im Durchschnitt niedrigere Scores aufweisen als grose Betriebe. Multivariate Analysen zeigen, dass es einen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen dem Management-Score eines Betriebs und dessen Produktivitat gibt, welcher mit der Firmengrose ansteigt. Ein Vergleich mit ahnlichen, amerikanischen Daten ergibt, dass der durchschnittliche Management-Score in Deutschland niedriger ist als in den USA. Wir sehen darin zum Teil die Erklarung fur bestehende Produktivitatsunterschiede zwischen Deutschland und den USA.