Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/114994 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Diskussionspapier No. 158
Publisher: 
Helmut-Schmidt-Universität - Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg, Fächergruppe Volkswirtschaftslehre, Hamburg
Abstract: 
Politicians frequently emphasize the importance of Mittelstand firms for the economy, thereby particularly referring to their enormous engagement in training apprentices. However, there is yet almost no empirical evidence on the question whether Mittelstand firms are in fact excessively active in training apprentices. This paper contributes to the literature by studying whether the relative importance of owner-managed SMEs has an effect on firms' apprenticeship activity. Using a cross section of West German NUTS-3-regions, we find a significantly positive relation between the relative importance of Mittelstand firms and apprenticeship activity on the regional level. However, on the national level an increase in the share of Mittelstand firms turns out to be without effect on apprenticeship activity.
Subjects: 
apprenticeship
Mittelstand firms
owner-management
SMEs
Germany
regional spillovers
JEL: 
C21
D23
I21
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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