Zum Einfluss von Ausländern auf die Wirtschaftsleistung von Standorten - Ist Zuwanderung ein Weg aus der ostdeutschen Lethargie

The paper investigates the potential impact of foreigners on economic development. Historicexamples, various contemporary empirical observations and theory support the working thesis thatregions which face a high quota of foreign residents may benefit from human capital spilloversbetween different ethnic groups. It is argued that immigration brings about both a more effectivedivision of labour and mutual learning and leads thereby to higher per-capita-income. We applythese findings to the current economic sickliness of East-Germany and conclude that in this regiona more committed immigration policy may prove to be an particularly appropriate remedy.