Abstract
This concluding chapter includes a summary of the modules of this volume and some recommendations on the subjects under investigation. The recommendations are partly based directly on individual modules and partly based on a combination of different modules. Some theses and recommendations are not based on particular modules at all; they were discussed by the researchers involved in the project and in workshops accompanying the project.
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Here the well-known comparative study by Kirschen (1974) could serve as a basis. Konrad (1999) showed that records containing so much information would be quite desirable for fine-tuning taxation, but at the same time would open up such a devastating dynamic temptation, and that for this reason alone (independent of ethical considerations about the
Social scientists, lawyers, and information scientists who are interested in this data should co-operate together on this matter.
But what we advocate is a greater and more intensive dovetailing of the currently largely separate systems of official statistics and statistical research.
The post-graduate programmes (“Graduiertenkollegs”) established by the DFG (German National Science Foundation) present a practical method of increasing the quality of graduate training. It is important that programmes that are designed in a more methodical manner are also encouraged.
So-called external doctoral students (“externe Doktoranden”) also ought to be included in these training programmes, as appropriate.
The Federal Government and the Laender, if not the DFG, could examine other ways of promoting research. The DFG should also finance research into methodology which would (in)directly serve to improve the statistical infrastructure.
Such virtual archives stock this data in a decentralised way. The access is effected by an internationally standardised interface, via the Internet. Thus, the support can be directly effected by the data producer.
At this point, it is necessary to define the precise role of economic research institutes in Germany, which — like the Munich Institute for Economic Research (CESifo) and the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWA) — fulfil the explicit function of service institutions. While in social science there is, in Germany, the Society for Infrastructural Institutions of Social Science (GESIS) which, strictly speaking, is an institution that collects primary statistical data and makes it available for research, there is still no such central institution for economic data which is under academic direction in Germany.
However, in Germany it has yet to be seen whether this will actually lead to a greater degree of co-operation in terms of the contents of research.
In Germany, the doctorate is followed by another qualification period which normally ends with a post-doctoral lecturing qualification (Habilitation).
The law referring to the formation of the German Council of Economic Experts regarding the assessment of general economic development forbids in §2 recommendations for particular social and economic measures. However, in the Council’s reports, this is often circumscribed by the use of complex formulations.
Despite their increasing participation in competition for research contracts, institutes aligned with particular interests, which do not receive public funding but are financed by particular associations or private organisations, are not considered here.
In Germany, the Economic Councils of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Economy, and the Council of Economic Experts (“Sachverständigenrat”) mainly give advice in the form of setting long term agendas. These advisory bodies are not bound to instructions, and theoretically (but not in praxis) they are free of any ideology.
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Berninghaus, S. et al. (2002). Summary and Recommendations. In: Zimmermann, K.F. (eds) Frontiers in Economics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-24739-5_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-24739-5_10
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