idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Grafik: idw-Logo

idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft

Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
01/08/2024 14:18

EU internal market as a crisis anchor

Dr. Jutta Gröschl Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn

    China is viewed increasingly critically but remains (still) important as a procurement market for German companies. The EU internal market remains the most important market, especially for the Mittelstand companies, due to the high level of legal certainty and reliable framework conditions.

    The industrial Mittelstand companies follow the current geopolitical crises and conflicts with great concern and take first precautions: Indeed, China generally remains important to companies as a procurement market since the country holds a monopoly-like position for some raw materials. However, the country is viewed increasingly critically. Hence, other Asian countries move into focus as possible alternatives, which is shown in the online survey conducted by IfM Bonn in early summer 2023. Over 1,800 managers from industrial companies took part in the survey. In autumn, representatives of chambers and trade associations were also interviewed about companies' activities abroad.

    "North America is becoming increasingly important, especially for exporting companies. However, the EU internal market remains the most important market, especially for the Mittelstand companies, due to the high level of legal certainty and reliable framework conditions. In contrast, trade in goods with the UK has become noticeably less important since Brexit," reports study director Hans-Jürgen Wolter. From an economic perspective, he recommends further strengthening the EU internal market politically, reducing bureaucratic hurdles in a targeted manner and consistently implementing the "think small first" premise when designing new regulations. At the same time, free (global) trade should be promoted again, for example in the form of free trade agreements, so companies become more confident when planning and can make optimal investments in the long term.

    The tendency towards foreign production sites.
    According to the IfM Bonn survey, only a few managers plan to relocate production sites abroad. Nevertheless, the tendency to set up new production facilities abroad has increased – even among the Mittelstand companies. "Depending on the extent to which this trend is also reflected in future investment decisions, this could lead to a reduction in the proportion of value added by industry in Germany in the long term," fears Hans-Jürgen Wolter.


    More information:

    https://www.ifm-bonn.org/fileadmin/data/redaktion/publikationen/ifm_materialien/...


    Images

    The most important foreign procurement and sales markets
    The most important foreign procurement and sales markets

    Copyright: IfM Bonn


    Criteria of this press release:
    Business and commerce, Journalists, Scientists and scholars, Students, Teachers and pupils, all interested persons
    Economics / business administration, Traffic / transport
    transregional, national
    Research results
    English


     

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).