Transfers, non-tradable goods and a distorted economy in eastern Germany

Abstract

A neoclassical 2x2 model with one tradable and one non-tradable good is used to examine some effects of the public transfers to eastern Germany. Results indicate that transfers enlarge the non-tradable sector at the expense of the tradable sector. In the case of minimum-wage-induced unemployment, transfers have a similar localisation effect. Using data from social security employment statistics, the localisation effect can clearly be shown. The paper concludes with some speculation on the effects of transfers on growth prospects and hypothesises whether the transfer itself might be one cause for the low growth rates of the eastern German economy.