Kompetenzzentrum
Every day new lists of "African Lions", "African Tigers", and "African Growth Champions" run through the international press and give the impression of a booming continent. The meaning is that these countries have exorbitant growth rates, huge growth potentials, large investment opportunities, and rich labour and human resources as assets for future development. However, these growth opportunities can only be used when qualified staff is available so that human resources development is key for African firms moving up the "globalization ladder" and for German firms being active in Africa. Because of the "mismatch" in African tertiary education systems (enrolments and graduations do not correspond to the needs of the major employment sectors) new approaches are needed to fill the gaps in human resources at country and firm levels. So, newly designed and innovative models of qualifying and recruiting staff are needed.
Based on a critical assessment of the views of international consulting companies on African business opportunities Professor Karl Wohlmuth gave a presentation at a meeting of Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e. V. in association with the Jacobs University (Link: Programme). Economics Professor Karl Wohlmuth emphasized in his presentation four issues (Link: Presentation):
First, New Business Areas and New Consumer Classes in Africa The Development Model determines the Structure and Demand of Qualified Staff
Second, Dynamic Development of African Enterprises and Entrepreneurship The Stage of Globalisation determines the Structure and Demand of Qualified Staff
Third, Diverging Demographic Developments in Africa The Objectives of Employment Generation and Entrepreneurship Development will determine the Structure and Demand of Qualified Staff
Fourth, Innovative Models of Qualifying and Recruiting Staff in and for Africa
It was shown that only 13 countries in Africa have some characteristics of "inclusive growth", as revealed by looking at ten important human development, competitiveness, governance, technology and economic performance indexes. Only countries with characteristics of "inclusive growth" can anticipate a broad development of formalized small and medium sized companies, thereby solving employment and social cohesion problems and building a pool for entrepreneurs and qualified staff for the further growth of firms and businesses in size and in number. It was as well shown that there is a very divergent landscape of companies in Africa. While some few firms are "African Challengers" moving quickly up the "globalization ladder", the basic conditions for the growth of formalized small and medium sized companies are missing in many African countries. Also, the "demographic dividend" can only be captured in African countries where the tertiary education systems are drastically reformed, where the "demographic transition" takes place and allows for saving, consumption and wealth generation, and where stable employment is created in key employment sectors so as to absorb the growing labour force. These three conditions are present only in few African countries. Therefore, innovative models for qualifying and recruiting staff are needed by German firms so as to benefit from the emerging business opportunities in Africa. These firms can overcome staff shortages by cooperating with African firms and entrepreneurship networks, with African universities and research institutions, and with African initiators and executors of development projects.
These issues are discussed in greater detail by Professor Karl Wohlmuth in an essay on "African Lions, African Tigers, and Emerging African Middle Classes How the International Consulting Business looks at Africa". This essay will be published in IWIM's Blue Series Discussion Papers (Link: IWIM Blue Series Discussion Papers).
A Comprehensive Transformation Process has to start NOW in Ukraine – How to Speed Up Structural Transformation by Deep Societal and Economic Reforms?
Are the current problems in Ukraine due to ethnic and political tensions, or due to delays in political and economic reforms, or are the causes of the problems much deeper rooted? In a new study on the Axiological Foundations In The Management Of Socio-Economic Development Of Ukraine two researchers from Ukraine - Dr Vitaliy Krupin, Senior Researcher, Doctor of Economics, and Yuriy Zlydnyk, Ph.D. Candidate, both from the Institute of Regional Researches of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine – present their views on the root causes of the problems and on steps towards inclusive, effective and comprehensive structural transformation processes in Ukraine.
After reviewing the socioeconomic characteristics and trends of the Ukraine, the authors highlight the problems of socio-economic development in the context of axiological principles, emphasizing spiritual values and ethical foundations in the Ukrainian society. Ethical norms and value systems have to be studied in order to understand the root problems in the Ukraine of our days. Such problems, as manifested by large-scale corruption, chaotic development processes, unorganized state actions and other failures and deviations in society, can only be overcome – according to the authors - by reforms based on axiological principles. Individual conduct and responsibility of the individual for his/her actions have therefore to be investigated in the context of the ongoing transformation and reform processes in Ukraine.
The axiological foundations for managing socio-economic development processes in the Ukraine were so far not considered as important topics in the researches on the transformation process in Ukraine. The two authors emphasize this aspect as crucial for effective further steps towards inclusive transformation processes. Analyzing the socio-economic indicators since the independence of Ukraine and the results of various corruption indices and barometers for Ukraine the extent of the societal and economic problems becomes obvious. The example of small business activity in Ukraine is presented as a case in point. The authors write that declaratively, small businesses are under minimal state control, but in reality, there are almost 40 different state authorities with rights to check and to suspend any activity of a business, inviting corrupt practices and so leading to widespread informal activities. But, as spiritual values of the people are at the root of these socio economic development problems, all reform policies to initiate a business-friendly environment and to fight corruption and other failures in the development process have to be guided by measures to overcome the lack of formed spiritual values. Informational measures and educational programs are recommended along with deep societal and economic reforms.
Professor Karl Wohlmuth has advised and supported the Research Group from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Lviv during the final phase of researches. The cooperation between Bremen and Lviv will be continued. The paper will be published in Issue 2, 2014 of “Berichte”, the journal of IWIM’s partner institute in Berlin (Forschungsinstitut der IWVWW e. V.).
A New Macroeconomic Strategy For Africa is presented in Volume 16 of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook. The New Macroeconomic Strategy For Africa focusses on employment-targeting by considering the policy space for more facilitating fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies. The New Strategy emphasizes also the vulnerability to (external and internal) shocks and the resilience factors so as to cope successfully with these shocks. As well the New Strategy considers those elements of macroeconomic policies which support inclusive and sustainable growth. Also, the New Strategy requests the adaptation of macroeconomic policies to the specific levels of economic governance and economic globalization of the country in question. Last, but not least, in the New Strategy institutional factors, such as the better cooperation of the three poles of macroeconomic policy-making (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, Central Bank), are taken into account.
Volume 16 also presents an analysis of the economics of the Arab Spring countries. However the political developments in the Arab Spring countries will develop, the need for sustainable macroeconomic policies and for inclusive growth policies is evident. The economics of the Arab Spring countries reveals that - despite of considerable economic growth prior to the Arab Spring events inadequate employment growth, slow human capital accumulation, and a highly restricted access to economic opportunities are among the major causes of the "Arab Spring" uprisings. There is more need for employment targeting in macroeconomic policies, for macroeconomic policies emphasizing inclusive growth policies, and for considering vulnerability and resilience factors, economic governance and economic globalization trends, and institutional reforms regarding the key macroeconomic policy-making institutions.
A Companion Volume 17 of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook will report on country cases (Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan) and on ECOWAS/WAMZ regional economic and monetary integration issues. Volume 17 is also expected in 2014.
The New Volume: Order your copy at LIT (Link: http://www.lit-verlag.de/london/ )
The African Development Perspectives Yearbook The Flagship Publication of IWIM
The African Development Perspectives Yearbook is released since 1989 by the Research Group on African Development Perspectives. Over the years the Yearbook became the major English-language Annual on African Development in Germany. Volumes 16 and 17 were supported with contributions also by staff from ILO/Geneva, UNESCWA/Beirut and UNDP/Cairo, by research institutions in Egypt and by ECOWAS/WAMZ/WAMI/Freetown staff in West Africa. The Managing Editor (Dr. T. Knedlik, IWH Halle) and the Volume Editor (Professor Karl Wohlmuth, University of Bremen) prepare now Volume 18 of the Yearbook for the year 2015 with the title "Africa's Progress towards Regional and Global Economic Integration". The Call for Papers for Volume 18 is still open (Call for Papers Volume 18: PDF). See more about the Yearbook Project ( http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/africa/about.htm ).
Die neue Studie von Professor Karl Wohlmuth über umfassende und nachhaltige Wirtschaftsreformen im Sudan und im Süd-Sudan ist soeben in der Reihe SERG (Sudan Economy Research Group) Discussion Papers erschienen (vgl. den Link zu den SERG Discussion Papers).
The new study by Professor Karl Wohlmuth about comprehensive and sustainable economic reforms in Sudan and South Sudan has just been published in the SERG (Sudan Economy Research Group) Discussion Paper Series (see the link to the SERG Discussion Papers).
Welchen Beitrag können umfassende und nachhaltige Wirtschaftsreformen für die politische und ökonomische Stabilisierung im Sudan und im Süd-Sudan erbringen? Diese Fragen werden in einer neuen Studie von Professor Karl Wohlmuth mit dem Titel Sudan und Süd-Sudan Programme für nachhaltige Wirtschaftsreformen untersucht. Die Studie erscheint in den SERG (Sudan Economy Research Group) Discussion Papers als Nummer 41 (vgl. dazu den Link zur: SERG Reihe). Der Beitrag von Professor Karl Wohlmuth geht von der zentralen These aus, dass zunehmende horizontale Ungleichheiten (zwischen den Regionen) und vertikale Ungleichheiten (zwischen den Einkommensschichten) kumulativ wirken und immer wieder neue Konflikte, Instabilitäten und Wachstums- und Entwicklungshemmnisse in den beiden Ländern hervorrufen. Die Wirtschaftsreformvorschläge des Professors in fünf zentralen Bereichen basieren auf diesen Einschätzungen und beziehen relevante Trends und Szenarien ein. Mehr über die Studie von Professor Karl Wohlmuth
Eine erweiterte Fassung des Essays von Professor Karl Wohlmuth "Back to John Maynard Keynes in Regulating International Commodity Markets" ist jetzt als Nummer 125 in der Blauen Reihe des IWIM erschienen (Link: Blaue Reihe des IWIM). Der Bremer Professor analysiert die Grenzen der "Transparenz-Agenda" und verweist auf die Notwendigkeit, ernsthaft über eine "Strukturreform-Agenda" nachzudenken. Die "Transparenz-Agenda" basiert auf einer Vielzahl von freiwilligen Vereinbarungen und Absichtserklärungen und einigen Gesetzesinitiativen, vor allem in den USA und der EU, für die Verbesserung der Transparenz auf spezifischen Rohstoffmärkten. In dem Beitrag wird auch auf die Vorschläge von John Maynard Keynes für die Organisation der internationalen Rohstoffmärkte eingegangen, um dann deren Bedeutung für die heute anstehenden Diskussionen zur Global Governance der internationalen Rohstoffmärkte zu erläutern. Es ist vorgesehen, die "Strukturreform-Agenda" in einem weiteren Beitrag zu vertiefen.
An extended version of the Essay written by Professor Karl Wohlmuth with the title "Back to John Maynard Keynes in Regulating International Commodity Markets" has just appeared as number 125 in the Blue Series Discussion Papers of IWIM (Link: Blue Series Discussion Papers of IWIM). Economics Professor Karl Wohlmuth analyzes the "Transparency Agenda" and refers also to the necessity to discuss a "Structural Reform Agenda". The "Transparency Agenda" is based on a great number of voluntary agreements and declarations of intent, but also on some legal frameworks in the USA and the European Union (EU) to improve transparency with regard of some specific raw materials markets. In this Essay the recommendations by John Maynard Keynes for a global governance of the international raw materials markets are discussed as well, and their relevance for the current discussion is assessed. In a further paper the "Structural Reform Agenda" will be analyzed in greater detail.
Im Jahr 2014 werden die Perspektiven der Welternährung und der Ernährungssicherheit in Afrika im Mittelpunkt der globalen entwicklungspolitischen Diskussionen stehen. Das UN Year of Family Farming (Link: http://www.fao.org/family-farming-2014/en/) und das AU Year of Food Security (Link: http://nigeria.gounna.com/show/show/42195/1) führen zu internationalen Verhandlungen und Diskussionen, die insbesondere auch die EU herausfordern werden. Die EU ist daher gefordert, im Dialog mit Afrika neue Akzente zu setzen. Alle Aspekte der Welternährung und der Ernährungssicherheit in Afrika werden daher bei den anstehenden EU-AU-Verhandlungen auf dem Prüfstand stehen; von afrikanischer Seite wird erwartet, dass die EU im Rahmen der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit und auch bei den Agrar-, Handels-, Umwelt- und Klimapolitiken mit neuen Vorschlägen antritt. 2014 ist das Jahr des vierten EU-AU-Gipfeltreffens im April in Brüssel, das erste Jahr des Mehrjährigen Finanzrahmens der EU, und für die AU ist 2014 der Beginn der dritten Strategischen Planperiode bzw. auch das Jahr der "Landwirtschaft und Ernährungssicherheit" (vgl. dazu einerseits das EU/ECDPM (European Centre for Development Policy Management) Challenges for Africa-EU Relations in 2014 Paper: http://www.ecdpm.org/Web_ECDPM/Web/Content/Download.nsf/0/72EA20FE64B9A92EC1257C4600386506/$FILE/FINAL%2013-PMI05-challenges%20english%20%281%29.pdf und andererseits die Beschlusslage der AU zum Strategischen Plan der AU für 2014-2017: http://summits.au.int/en/21stsummit/events/african-union-commission's-strategic-plan-2014-2017-adopted-assembly ). Das Jahr 2014 kann daher zu einer Wende in den EU-AU-Beziehungen führen, was angesichts der globalen Konkurrenz um Einfluss in Afrika als vielleicht letzte Chance für Europa gesehen wird (vgl. dazu auch F. Rampa, ECDPM: http://www.ecdpm-talkingpoints.org/challenges-2014-family-farming-african-food-security-and-eu-au-relations-deadlock-or-turning-point-in-2014/).
Professor Karl Wohlmuth geht in seinem neuen Essay "Perspektiven der Welternährung. Plädoyer für eine neue Afrikapolitik der Europäischen Union" auf die Möglichkeiten ein, die "Gemeinsame Strategie Afrika-EU" so umzubauen, dass die Ernährungssicherheit in Afrika im Zentrum der zukünftigen gemeinsamen Arbeit steht. Die 2007 in Lissabon vereinbarte Gemeinsame Strategie Afrika-EU hat bisher in keiner Weise die Erwartungen erfüllt und das Jahr 2014 bietet nun die Chance, neue Akzente zu setzen. Der Bremer Wirtschaftsprofessor zeigt vier Handlungsebenen auf, wie die Probleme der Ernährungssicherheit in Afrika im Rahmen der Gemeinsamen Strategie Afrika-EU konstruktiv aufgegriffen werden können. Konkrete Projekte, Programme und Aktionen werden aufgeführt. Der Beitrag wurde für die letzte Europakonferenz des Forschungsinstituts der IWVWW e. V. an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin im November 2013 erarbeitet. Die Studie wird in der Zeitschrift "Berichte" und auch in der "Blauen Reihe" des IWIM erscheinen (vgl. Publikationen Karl Wohlmuth). Das Institut in Berlin ist seit vielen Jahren Partnerinstitut des IWIM.
Kein Ende der Diskussion über "Finanzspekulation und Nahrungsmittelpreise": Foodwatch reagiert auf die Stellungnahme von Professoren zur Studie von Professor Bass
Die Studie von Professor Dr. Hans-Heinrich Bass über FINANZSPEKULATION UND NAHRUNGSMITTELPREISE: ANMERKUNGEN ZUM STAND DER FORSCHUNG hat großes Medieninteresse gefunden und auch zu neuen wissenschaftlichen Kontroversen geführt. Die im Rahmen einer IWIM-Schriftenreihe herausgegebene Studie (Link zur IWIM-Reihe: http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/files/dateien/1432_bass_finanzspekulation_und_nahrungsmittelpreise.pdf) führte zu diversen Stellungnahmen von Professoren (vgl. dazu insbesondere: http://wcms.uzi.uni-halle.de/download.php?down=32439&elem=2734431 und http://www.iamo.de/dok/IAMOPolicyBrief12_de.pdf) und zu Reaktionen von foodwatch (vgl. zu den diversen Kommentaren und Reaktionen bei Foodwatch: http://www.foodwatch.org/de/informieren/agrarspekulation/mehr-zum-thema/meta-studie-zur-finanzspekulation/). Die Deutsche Bank will jetzt offensichtlich einen Dialog mit den Kritikern über die Agrarmarktspekulation führen und diese zu einer Konferenz einladen (vgl. dazu: http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/deutsche-bank-will-kritiker-der-agrarspekulation-bekehren-a-940436.html). Von der Allianzgruppe liegt offensichtlich noch keine diesbezügliche Stellungnahme vor.