Résumé
The German economy has no general competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis south-east Asia. Substantial disadvantages in labour-intensive industries are offset by significant advantages in human capital- and knowledge-intensive industries, in particular in mechanical engineering and road motor vehicle construction.
It would be an economic policy mistake to resort to trade policy and subsidies in order to decelerate the structural change generated by import competition. On the contrary, what is required is a positive adjustment policy, which acts as a labour market cushion and helps to generate new jobs in those regions that are among the losers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cf. Florian Straßberger, Marian Beise, Heike Belitz, Ludger Lindlar, Dieter Schumacher, Harald Trabold: FuE-Aktivit äten, Außenhandel und Wirtschaftsstrukturen: Die technologische Leistungsfähigkeit der deutschen Wirtschaft im internationalen Vergleich,Beitrag zur erweiterten Berichterstattung zur technologischen Leistungsfähigkeit Deutschlands im Auftrag des BMBF, Berlin, 1996, pp. 114–116.,
World Bank:The East Asian Miracle: Economic Growth and Public Policy, Oxford, 1993.
OECD:The OECD Jobs Study, Evidence and Explanations, Part I, Chapter 3, Paris, 1994; ILO: World Employment 1995, Geneva, 1995; World Bank: World Development Report 1995: Workers in an Integrating World, Washington D.C., 1995.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindlar, L. Does Germany have competitive disadvantages vis-à-vis south-east Asia?. Economic Bulletin 33, 11–18 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02300672
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02300672