Panel 1

• Das Produktivitätsparadoxon im Maschinenbau
• Das Produktivitaetspuzzle:Ursachenund Empfehlungen
• Die Finanzkrise und Produktivitätswachstum
• Produktivitätsentwicklung in Deutschland: Sektorbeiträge, internationaler Vergleich und statistische Messprobleme

Panel 2

• Innovation im deutschen Mittelstand
• Nachlassende Ertragsrate von Forschung und Entwicklung? –Evidenz, Indikatorik und Erklärungsansätze

Panel 3

• Krisenresilienz durch Digitalisierung?
• Neue technologische Möglichkeiten und neue Formen des Wirtschaftens
• Rückstand Deutschlands in der Digitalisierung im Spiegel der Patentstatistik
• Wirtschaftsindex DIGITAL 2017 - Stand und Perspektiven der Digitalisierung der deutschen Wirtschaft

Panel 4

• China als Innovationssupermacht? - Grenzen der Messbarkeit aktueller Globalisierungstrends
• Gewinnt oder verliert der Forschungsstandort Deutschland durch die Globalisierung?
• Regionale Disparitäten als Herausforderungen für die empirische Forschung und die Innovationspolitik
• Warum in Deutschland innovieren? –Wettbewerb internationaler Innovationsstandorte

Most industrialised countries have seen a significant decline in productivity growth, a trend which has become apparent in the last 15 years – and even more so since the economic and financial crisis. This development has set in motion an international debate, which has received great attention from international organisations (OECD 2015, The Future of Productivity) and researchers (Bloom et al. 2017, Are Ideas harder to find?). Some economic experts argue that this phenomenon can be either explained by secular stagnation, a technological interim phase, exploited basic technologies or increasing difficulties in adapting technological innovations. Other experts argue that the productivity slowdown is attributable to statistical measurement problems, referring to Solow’s much-quoted phrase “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics”, which later became known as the productivity paradox.

In terms of innovation activity, Germany is one of the leading economies in Europe. The international success of the German innovation system is not only represented by the fact that Germany recently nearly reached the European goal to increase R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP , but it is also confirmed by virtually all macroeconomic figures. Nevertheless, Germany also has experienced a decrease in both labour and total factor productivity. The past years have seen a decrease of the rate of innovators as well as in the number of technology-oriented start-ups. Companies have reacted to these developments in very different ways: While some firms have significantly increased their spending on R&D and innovation, other companies have limited their activities in these fields or decided to specialise in individual stages of the innovation process. This reduces the possibility of a wide range of technological potential being eventually unlocked in the future. “Hidden champions”, additionally, cover up the innovative potential of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Are the aforementioned developments in fact the result of multidimensional problems associated with the measuring of innovation, R&D and investment in new technologies? Do the established measuring methods adequately reflect their outputs and outcomes? Or do the available indicators in fact reflect current deficits in the German economy, thus signalling a future decrease in innovation dynamics? What challenges can be deduced from the well-established indicators? What are the deficits and how can we overcome them? And are we even measuring the right things?
In addition to the economic indicators, their limits and opportunities, the workshop will also address the causes behind these developments by shedding light on different problem-solving approaches. Furthermore, a number of other questions will be addressed during the event: What concepts and instruments of innovation policy should be used to combat these deficits? Which conclusions can be drawn from prior experiences with new instruments? And how can we assess their effectiveness?

The goal of the workshop is to assess and discuss existing analyses in the field. To this end, selected economic experts will give short statements in order to provide a basis for discussion between the panel members and the audience.

Some Impressions from the event