The improvement of housing conditions in post com-munist Germany – Market Mechanisms and Subsidy Impacts

The objective of this paper is to explain the mechanisms that have lead to the remarkable improvement of the East German Housing Market during transition after the political change in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990. Theoretical analysis suggests, that housing policy of the former GDR did not maximize consumer`s utility. Socialistic housing and construction policy limited the welfare with and distorted construction costs and rent control. The reason for that was not alone a lack of quantity but also a lack of quality and diversity. Therefore we argue that diversification of quality and te-nure in the post communist era enhanced the welfare of consumers. We propose that welfare on the East German Housing market was significantly increased by creating a new variety of housing types and qualities which fits better with different preferences of the households. A filtering model predicts theoretically the observable trends of seg-mentation and the development of a higher diversity of housing market segments. But additionally to the transition a bunch of subsidies were set up during transition. There-fore the paper is focused on the interdependency between housing market subsidies, the supply cost function, the qualitative development of the housing stock and the choice of demand. Empirically we observe the change and qualitative improvement of housing conditions in East Germany during transition and quantitative effects like increased vacancy risk in a shifted hierarchy of housing qualities.

What Happened to the East German Housing Market? – A Historical Perspective on the Role of Public Funding –

The paper analyses the development of the East German housing market after the reunification of the former German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990. We analyse the dynamics of the East German housing market within the framework of the well-known stock-flow model, proposed by DiPasquale and Wheaton. We show that the today observable disequilibrium to a large extend is caused by post-unification housing policy and its strong fiscal incentives to invest into the housing stock. Moreover, in line with the stylized empirical facts, we show that ‘hidden reserves’ of the housing market were reactivated since the economy of East Germany became market organized. Since initial undersupply was overcome faster than politicians expected, the implemented fiscal stimuli were too strong. In contrast to the widespread opinion that outward migration caused the observable vacancies, this paper shows that not weakness of demand but supply side policies caused the observable disequilibrium.housing market transition, housing subsidies, housing supply, east germany

Report on the development of political institutions involved in policy elaborations in organic farming for selected European states

As organic farming has become an instrument of European agricultural policy the organic sector is required more and more to get politically active. This report presents results from the EU-funded project EU-CEEOFP on the development of organic farming institutions for the period of 1997-2003 in eleven European countries. Institutions of the organic farming sector in new EU member states are still developing and their relation with mainstream farming institutions is characterised by a state of competition. In (old) EU 15 countries and Switzerland this relation is more oriented towards co-operation and has been described as in a state of creative conflict. Countries with a high share of organic farming show signs of consolidation of their institutions. The report concludes with recommendations for a succesful development of organic farming institutions

Production of Hard Photons and Jets in Deep Inelastic Lepton Proton Scattering at Order O(\alpha_s)

We calculate the O(\alpha_s) corrections to the production of a hard and isolated photon accompanied by one or two jets in deep inelastic lepton nucleon scattering at HERA. Numerical results are presented and the potential of this process for studies of parton distribution functions is discussed.Comment: 20 pages Latex, 12 postscript figures and axodraw.sty include

Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment version 3 data retrievals

Version 3 of the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment data set for some 30 trace and minor gas profiles is available. From the IR solar-absorption spectra measured during four Space Shuttle missions (in 1985, 1992, 1993, and 1994), profiles from more than 350 occultations were retrieved from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere. Previous results were unreliable for tropospheric retrievals, but with a new global-fitting algorithm profiles are reliably returned down to altitudes as low as 6.5 km (clouds permitting) and include notably improved retrievals of H2 O, CO, and other species. Results for stratospheric water are more consistent across the ATMOS spectral filters and do not indicate a net consumption of H2 in the upper stratosphere. A new sulfuric-acid aerosol product is described. An overview of ATMOS Version 3 processing is presented with a discussion of estimated uncertainties. Differences between these Version 3 and previously reported Version 2 ATMOS results are discussed. Retrievals are available at http: /atmos.jpl.nasa.gov /atmos

The European Market for Organic Products: Growth and Development

The European Market for organic food has been growing rapidly in terms of both supply and demand during the 1990s. However, national markets develop in many different directions. In some countries the market share ist quiet high while in others a market for organic farming products nearly does not exist. This book detects and compares the national markets of the main organic products in 18 European countries - the 15 EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway and the Czech Republic - on the basis of the most comprehensive collection of data ever presented covering the period 1993 - 1997/1998. It is shown that European demand is far from being satisfied and the major efforts in organising a transparent international market and developing marketing strategies is necessary to realise this potential. This book is aimed at policy makers, the private sector, researchers and students in the field of economics and politics of organic farming

Organic Farming Development and Agricultural Institutions in Europe: A Study of Six Countries

Cooperation between general agricultural institutions and the organisation of the organic farming sector are key factors for the development of organic farming. This study analyses the relationships of organic farming organisations with other farmers' organisations, agencies of agricultural policy and food market firms in six European countries. On this basis it identifies a path for successful development of organic farming which is adaptable to the special conditions of all European countries. This book presents the most systematic and in-depth comparison of the dynamics of organic farming development to date, providing concrete suggestions for a line of action for everyone with an interest in developing organic farming

Civic Engagement Programs and Youth Development: A Synthesis

Focuses on the role that civic engagement plays in helping young people develop a broad array of strengths and capacities, including educational achievement, health and safety, social and emotional well-being, and self sufficiency