Hauptinhalt
Regional inequality, regional transformation and structural policy
Involved researchers: Thomas Brenner, Abdulhak Alsharif, Fatih Celebioglu, Masoumeh Ghorbani, Tobias J. Hertrich, Mirco Kuhl, Felix Schmidt
Regional inequality is a concept that includes differences in the standards of living, economic development and multi dimensional performance between regions. In this context, regional inequality research focuses on the study of differences between regions in terms of living standards, access to and use of certain services and supports, industrial production, start-ups, entrepreneurship, innovation, resilience, employment opportunities, etc. Regional economic growth and development policies play an important role in the transformation of left-behind regions and in creating better conditions. Therefore, the research group focuses on the effects of structural and regional policies, and in particular public support, in eliminating regional inequalities. In this context, we work on the following research themes by using qualitative and quantitative methods:
1) Effects of public subsidies on regional development: What are the effects of public subsidies on the regional economic output, innovation activities, wages, and living conditions? How does the effectiveness of public subsidies depend on regional circumstances? The working group contributed to the Equivalence Report 2024 of the German Government on this issue and cooperates with the universities in Gießen and Bremen on detailed analyses.
2) Regional transformation: How do industries in regions transfer in the context of new technologies, such as electromobility and bioeconomy? Simulation and indicator-based approaches are used to study developments and policy effects in two cooperation projects (TeamMit and BioTOP).
3) Left-behind regions : What hinders innovation processes in left-behind regions? How do regions become seen by the local population as left-behind? How does this depend on the history of regions?
4) Resilience of the regions: How did resistance and recovery of the German regions in the Great Recession 2008/2009 depend on the situation in the regions?
5) Regional entrepreneurial ecosystems: How do local circumstances influence the number of firm foundations in German regions?
6) Cluster evolution: What determines whether clusters decline or renewal? What are the impacts of clusters on skill shortage and firm foundation?
7) Science and innovation in catching-up countries: How do special economic zones influence innovation activities? In what technologies and research fields are catching-up countries active?
8) Skill shortage and regional development: How does skill shortage influence the output, investment, and innovation in regions?
Related publications:
Hertrich, T. J. and Brenner, T. (2025): When the past becomes the future: The challenges of policies in ‘Left Behind’places in East Germany–A case study from the Gera region. Regional Science Policy & Practice 17 (8): 100195.
zu Jeddeloh, S., von Proff, S. and Brenner T. (2025): The dandelion rubber effect: Life cycle and patenting locations in new technologies–investigating the German bioeconomy. Journal of Evolutionary Economics : 1-42.
König, T. and Brenner, T. (2025): Decline or renewal? Factors influencing the evolution of mature industrial clusters. Review of Regional Research: 1-38.
Hertrich, T. J. and Brenner, T. (2024): What hampers research collaboration in a region? Review of Regional Research 44(2): 163-192.
Brenner, T. and zu Jeddeloh, S. (2024) Path dependence in an evolving system: a modeling perspective. Cliometrica 18: 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11698-023-00266-z
Celebioglu, F. and Brenner, T. (2023) "The resilience of German regions facing the crisis in 2008/2009: the effects of innovation, specialisation, qualifications and sectoral structure", Competitiveness Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-07-2022-0109
Hertrich, T.J. and Brenner, T. (2023). Classification of regions according to the dominant innovation barriers: The characteristics and stability of region types in Germany. Regional Science Policy & Practice. DOI: 10.1111/rsp3.12711.
Ghorbani, M. and Brenner, T. (2021): Prerequisites and initial developments for economic specialization in lagging regions—A study of specialized villages in Iran. Review of Regional Research 41 (2): 229-268.