A Regional Perspective on Social Security and Federal Spatial Funding : Who Participates How?

Abstract

"This article investigates the relation between equalisation-oriented regional financial transfers of the social security system, and spatial funding from various political branches. In the second part of the article, we first illustrate the regional distribution of receipts and expenditures in unemployment insurance and the pension scheme. On this basis, regions are divided into contributing and recipient regions and their classification is described by two regional indicators. In the third part it is illustrated in what measure contributing and recipient regions participate in the various forms of spatial funding. The analysis observes regional formal payments, as these reveal in what measure regions participate in the development of local infrastructure, the promotion of private investment, the expansion of universities and research, or in social transfers. Economic and regional effects of social transfers and spatial financial means, which possibly differ across regions, e.g. in the creation and usage stages of public infrastructure, are excluded from the analysis. So are effects within the system of financial equalisation which result from the regionally differing operations of public payments and the resulting effects on the governing capability of federal states. To account for these effective and secondary effects of tax burdens is beyond the scope of this article. It is therefore concluded, in the context of the found regional distribution patterns, by some fundamental considerations on government's options of promoting regional development processes and the emergence of regional clusters." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Bruckmeier, K., Zarth, M. & Schnitzlein, D. (2009): Eine regionale Betrachtung der Sozialversicherung und raumwirksamer Bundesmittel. Wer partizipiert wie? In: H. Mäding (Hrsg.) (2009): Öffentliche Finanzströme und räumliche Entwicklung (Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung. Forschungs- und Sitzungsberichte, 232), p. 105-133.