The German NUTS-2 region of Arnsberg. An economic analysis of EUROSTAT regional data

List of Content

Introduction

The Region of Arnsberg
Facts
Infrastructure
Industry

Analysis of Regional Data
A. Make a diagram to compare the level and development of the region ’ s GDP (in PPS) with that of the whole country
B. Make a diagram to compare the population development of the region with that of the whole country (use indexes)
C. Make a triangle diagram to compare the education level in the region, in the country and in EU-28
D. Make a diagram (stacked columns) to compare the employment in the three main business sectors in the region with that in the whole country
E. Make a regression analysis between the region ´ s employment and its GVA in business sectors (10 sectors)
F. Make a table with the region ´ s top-ten business sectors based on location quotients. Data as well as calculations should be included in the table

Importance of Key Agents
A. Firm
B. Labour
C. State

Key Drivers of Arnsberg
A. Accessibility
B. Innovation
C. Entrepreneurship

Location Theories
Alfred Weber ´ s “ Least Cost Theory ”

Socio-Cultural Issues
A. Culture
B. Gender

Conclusion

List of sources

Introduction

This report will be about the German NUTS-2 region of Arnsberg. It will include a brief introduction to the region, stating the most important facts and information. This acquired basic knowledge will then be transferred to the more specific part of the assignment, the analysis of regional data. In this case, the used tool is called EUROSTAT. It is the European Union’s official source for statistics and data concerning the different member states. The Main part therefore includes charts, diagrams and tables regarding different topics as population, wealth, employment or education. Every chart will be briefly described and analyzed. Furthermore, data of the German state and the European Union is used in addition to the regional NUTS-2 data to compare on national and international level. In continuation to this, location theories and the importance of economic key drivers and agents are discussed and applied to the NUTS-2 region of Arnsberg. The assignment is then rounded-off by a conclusion and the list of used sources.

The Region of Arnsberg

Facts

The region of Arnsberg and its eponymous city is located within the western German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). It is one of five administrative districts within NRW, containing counties and cities like Dortmund, Bochum, Hagen, Unna and the Hochsauerland district. Looking at the map of NUTS-2 regions, it is defined as “DEA5”. Arnsberg has a population on about 3.5 million people in an area of approximately 8002km², measured in the end of 2013¹.

Picture 1.

Illustration of the German NUTS2 Regions

Infrastructure

The regions infrastructure is really good, as it is in most parts of Germany. It covers the Airport of

Dortmund and the airport of Paderborn. The highways A1 and A2 are reachable in about 15 minutes via the A46 and the A445 going from the city of Arnsberg.

Moreover, the city of Arnsberg is reachable via one of its 3 railway stations or by long-distance busses. As an industrial institution, it is no problem to acquire needed goods in the Region of Arnsberg. If you are comparing the regions accessibility of highways on a national level, it is way above the German average, which is pretty high already. The interactive atlas from the German Newspaper “Sueddeutsche” states, that the

Picture 2. Infrastructure of Arnsberg

region of Arnsberg covers 55.33km highway pr. 1000km², compared to the German average of 33.6km pr. 1000km².²

Industry

Everything is very well connected and highly industrialized. In addition to that, Arnsberg is situated around mineral resources in the form of granite, natural gas and coal. Those are being mined in - and around the cities.

The local economy catalogue from the city of Arnsberg states, that the manufacturing of luminary, paper and wood, just as safety equipment within cars are all playing vital roles regarding the regions healthy industrial sector. Moreover, the river “Ruhr” is floating through the region of Arnsberg, and it has been providing water for the people and the industry throughout the centuries.³

Analysis of Regional Data

A. Make a diagram to compare the level and development of the region’s GDP (in PPS) with that of the whole country.

This diagram based on the data of EUROSTAT is showing the history and development of the Gross Domestic Product within the region of Arnsberg, in comparison to the national GDP, indicated by the purchasing power standard per inhabitant. Sadly, the region of Arnsberg only had data on GDP in PPS for the period of 2010-2012 on EUROSTAT. Even if a broader Eurostat: Extracted on 18.11.2015 lapse of time would be of interest, the available data still provides serviceable tools. The pathway of both indicators is very similar; still, the numbers of the German state are considerably higher than Arnsberg’s throughout the time taken. 29.600 PPS/hab compared to 32.500 PPS/hab in 2012. This is indicating that the region of Arnsberg is less effective in comparison to the average Germany.

illustration not visible in this excerpt

Chart 1. Eurostat: Extracted on 18.11.2015

B. Make a diagram to compare the population development of the region with that of the whole country (use indexes).

illustration not visible in this excerpt

Chart 2. EUROSTAT: Extracted on 18.11.2015

This Chart is showing the significant change in population within Arnsberg and the rest of Germany. The illustration requires the use of indexes, as the original numbers are differing too much to show them in one graph. Germany is having about 82.5 million inhabitants, while Arnsberg is on about 3.5 million.⁴ Starting in 1990, both graphs are increasing equally until the year of 1997, where the graph of Arnsberg starts decreasing for the first time, while the graph for the whole of Germany stabilises around 1998-2000, just to slowly increase again up to the year of 2005, where it starts to decrease again on a minor scale. So after all, the Ger- man graph is increasing from 100% to 104%, and stays around that number up until the year of 2013, were it decreases kind of rapidly from 103,7% to 102%. This might be caused by the financial crisis in 2007. It has been the trend in Germany for a few years; the population is decreasing due to the high costs connected to children and the increasing percentage of women working. Germany is facing the problems of a very old population. German inhabit- ant’s rate of birth is too low; to make sure that a decent pension for retired generations is secured.⁵ The graph for Arnsberg is decreasing even further, after stabilizing around 103% 1996-2003. It has taken a decrease from 103% to 98.5% from 2003-2013, and then falling even more after 2013 (just as the German average), reaching its lowest point around 96% in 2014. Starting in 1990, Arnsberg had a total decrease in population by nearly 4%, while the German average still has increased 2% overall, currently having a negative tendency. Fur- thermore, Arnsberg is having about 15% school dropouts, while Germany´s average is on about 12%in 2013⁶. This could really become a problem when the local industry needs to fill the gaps occurring within the manufacturing industry. So the region has to ensure that people will come to keep up the current labour.

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¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnsberg_(region) Picture 1: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3859598/5916917/KS-RA-11-011-EN.PDF/2b08d38c-7cf0- 4157-bbd1-1909bebab6a6?version=1.0

² http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/interaktiver-atlas-so-lebt-europa-1.1615912

³ http://www.arnsberg.de/informationen/verkehrsverbindungen.php, http://www.wfa-arnsberg.de/cms/upload/downloads/wirtschaftsbroschuere.pdf, page 22-23 Picture 2: http://www.wfa-arnsberg.de/cms/upload/downloads/wirtschaftsbroschuere.pdf, page 6

⁴ http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/germany-population/

⁵ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html

⁶ http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/interaktiver-atlas-so-lebt-europa-1.1615912