Univ.-Prof. em. Dr. Walter Buhr

Main areas of research

University Professor emeritus Dr. Walter Buhr

• Selected problems of infrastructure

• Basic problems of growth theory and policy

Publications (selection)

Dissertation (Doctoral Thesis)

• Dualvariablen als Kriterien unternehmerischer Planung, Die Bedeutung der Dualitätsbeziehungen des mathematischen Pogrammierens für die entscheidungsbezogene Theorie der Unternehmung (Dual Variables as Criteria for Entrepreneurial Planning, The Importance of the Duality Relationships of Mathematical Programming for the Theory of the Firm), Meisenheim/Glan, Verlag Anton Hain, 1967, 216 p.

Habilitation thesis (Habilitation Thesis)

• Die Rolle der materiellen Infrastruktur im regionalen Wirtschaftswachstum, Studien über die Infrastruktur eines städtischen Gebietes: Der Fall Santa Clara County/California (The Role of Material Infrastructure in Intraregional Economic Growth, Studies in Urban Infrastructure: The Case of Santa Clara Country/California), Berlin, Duncker & Humblot (Volkswirtschaftliche Schriften, Heft 240), 1975, 309 p.

Books (Books)

• Konkurrenz zwischen kleinen Regionen - Competition among Small Regions, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlag (Schriften zur öffentlichen Verwaltung und öffentlichen Wirtschaft, Vol. 23), 1978, 391 pp. (ed. with P. Friedrich)
• Lectures on Regional Stagnation, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlag (Schriften zur öffentlichen Verwaltung und öffentlichen Wirtschaft, vol. 44), 1981, 317 p. (ed. with P. Friedrich).
• Stadtentwicklungsmodelle (Urban Development Models), Analytische Instrumente empirisch orientierter Simulationsansätze zur Lösung von Projektions- und Planungsproblemen der Städte, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlag (Schriften zur öffentlichen Verwaltung und öffentlichen Wirtschaft, vol. 39), 1981, 475 pp. (with R. Pauck).
• Wirtschaftstheoretische Aspekte des "Isolierten Staates" (Theoretical Aspects of the "Isolated State"), Beiträge zur zweihundertsten Wiederkehr des Geburtstages von Johann Heinrich von Thünen, Heft 6 der Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, 103. Jg., 1983, 120 S. (ed. with A. Woll).

Article (Articles)

• Die Bestimmung von Verrechnungspreisen mit Hilfe der Dualvariablen des mathematischen Programmierens (The Determination of Accounting Prices Applying the Dual Variables of Mathematical Programming), in: Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft, 123. Bd, 1967, pp. 419-449.
• Dualvariable, Opportunitätskosten und optimale Geltungszahl (Dual Variable, Opportunity Cost and the Optimal Representative Number), in: Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft, 37. vol. 1967, pp. 687-708.
• Remarks on the Problem of Growth Induces Conflicts between External Equilibrium and Internal Objectives, in: Kyklos, Vol. 21, 1968, pp. 337-349.
• A Retrospective View of Criteria for Investment Planning in Developing Areas, in: R. Jochimsen, U. E. Simonis (eds.), Theorie und Praxis der Infrastrukturpolitik, Schriften des Vereins für Socialpolitik, N.F., vol. 54, Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 1970, pp. 153-176.
• Die Abhängigkeit der räumlichen Entwicklung von der Infrastrukturausstattung (The Dependence of Spatial Development on Infrastructure Endowment), in: H. Arndt, D. Swatek (eds.), Grundfragen der Infrastrukturplanung für wachsende Wirtschaften, Schriften des Vereins für Socialpolitik, N.F., vol. 58, Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 1971, pp. 103-124 (Discussion: pp. 125-165).
• Forecasting Regional Infrastructural Demand: The Case of Telephone Services, in: W. F. Smith (ed.), The Growing City: Empirical Studies of the Economics of Urban Development, Research Report No. 34, Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, University of California, Berkeley 1971, pp. 1-31.
• Toward the Design of Intraregional Infrastructure Policy, in: Papers of the Regional Science Association, Vol. 31, 1973, pp. 213-240.
• Der Zusammenhang zwischen der linearen Aktivitätsanalyse und der Theorie des mikroökonomischen totalen Gleichgewichts (I) und (II) (The Relationship between Linear Activity Analysis and the Theory of the Firm of Microeconomic Total Equilibrium (I) and (II)), in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 3. Jg., Nr. 6 und 7, 1974, pp. 275-281 and 326-331.
• Zur Erreichung des langfristigen totalen Konkurrenzgleichgewichts: Der Beitrag der Simplexmethode (Reaching Long-term Equilibrium in Perfect Competition: The Contribution of the Simplex Method), in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 4. Jg., Nr. 2, 1975, S. 66-72.
• Zur Konstruktion von Programmierungsmodellen im Rahmen der Input-Output Analyse (On the Construction of Programming Models in the Frameworks if Input-Output Analysis), Discussion Paper No. 3, Chair of Economics II, University of Siegen, Siegen 1977.
• Allokationsmechanismen in Stadtentwicklungsmodellen (Allocation Mechanisms in Urban Development Models), in: W. Buhr, P. Friedrich (eds.), Konkurrenz zwischen kleinen Regionen - Competition among Small Regions, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 1978, pp. 265-289.
• Wichtige Determinanten des Per-Kopf-Einkommens in Entwicklungsländern (Important Determinants of Per-Capita-Incomes of Developing Countries), in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 7. Jg., Nr. 10, 1978, S. 494-500.
• A Time-Recursive Model of Urban Infrastructure, in: W. F. J. van Lierop, P. Nijkamp (eds.), Locational Developments and Urban Planning, Alphen aan den Rijn, Sijthoff & Noordhoff, 1981, pp. 247-271.
• Mikroökonomische Modelle der von Thünenschen Standorttheorie (Microeconomic Models of von Thünen's Location Theory), in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, 103rd vol., 1983, pp. 589-627.
• A Model of Regional Growth: Simulation Results for the Case of Population Decline, in: G. Steinmann (ed.), Economic Consequences of Population Change in Industrialized Countries, Proceedings of the Conference on Population Economics Held at the University of Paderborn, West Germany, June 1-3, 1983, Studies in Contemporary Economics, Vol. 8, Berlin, Springer, 1984, pp. 147-166.
• Regional Investment Functions of Material Infrastructure: Theoretical Issues and Selected Empirical Case Studies, in: Environment and Planning A, Vol. 18, 1986, pp. 491-509 (with M. Köppel).
• Efficiency versus Equity in Regional Economic Growth, The Shock of a Birth Rate Reduction in View of an Interregional Decentralization of Public Expenditures, in: P. Friedrich, P. van Rompuy (eds.), Fiscal Decentralization, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 1987, pp. 217-230.
• Empirical Analysis of Allocation: On the State of the Art in Urban Development Modeling, in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, 107th vol., 1987, pp. 169-199.
• Partial versus Global Optimization in Economic Dynamics: The Case of Recursive Programming, in: H. Birg, H. J. Schalk (eds.), Regionale und sektorale Strukturpolitik, Rainer Thoss zum 60. Geburtstag, Münster, Institut für Siedlungs- und Wohnungswesen 1992, pp. 3-14 (with R. Wolff).
• Regional Economic Growth by Policy-Induced Capital Flows: I. Theoretical Approach and II. Policy Simulation Results, in: The Annals of Regional Science, Vol. 29, 1995, pp. 17-40 and pp. 255-276.
• Außenhandelstheorie mit Mathematica (International Trade Theory in Terms of Mathematica), in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 24. Jg, No. 4, 1995, pp. 360-375 (with H. Bobzin and T. Christiaans)
  Summary:
  wisu1998.html
  Außenhandelstheorie mit Mathematica
  Hagen Bobzin, Walter Buhr, Thomas Christiaans
  While many parts of elementary theoretical economics are illustrated in textbooks by simple arithmetic examples, such numerical approaches are lacking for the HECKSCHER-OHLIN-SAMUELSON model of foreign trade. The main reason for this is probably the difficulties caused in particular by the concrete calculation of the supply functions for the derivation of the general equilibrium. Thanks to its symbolic capabilities, the mathematics program Mathematica allows such a calculation at least in some cases. In addition, graphs used in foreign trade theory can be generated in a simple manner. Mathematica thus not only provides the tools to check and expand theoretical results, but also enables theory to be conveyed to students by computer.
• Reference: Foreign Trade Theory with Mathematica, in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 24, 1995, pp. 360-375.
• Line Integrals in Applied Welfare Economics: A Summary of Basic Theorems, Discussion Paper No. 54-95, Department of Economics and Business Administration, University of Siegen, Siegen 1995 (with H.J. Wagner)
• Art. Spatial Economic Theory and Art. Wachstumstheorie (Article "Spatial Economic Theory" and Article "Theory of Economic Growth"), in: A. Woll, Wirtschaftslexikon, 9th ed., Munich, Oldenbourg, 2000, pp. 628-630, 779-782.
• A Macroeconomic Growth Model of Competing Regions, in: J. R. Roy, W. Schulz (eds.), Theory of Regional Competition, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2001
  abstract
  Competing Regions
  AMacroeconomic Growth Model of Competing Regions
  Walter Buhr
  University of Siegen, Siegen/Germany.
  Abstract: In the growth context, this paper concentrates on the supply-demand determination of regional equilibrium incomes in regional goods markets as a framework for discussing the implications of competition among regions. Prices at the regional and national level are fixed so that all variables are of real magnitudes; there are no money markets. Regional factor stocks (private and public capital, labor force in the form of human capital) and regional demand set up the barriers to economic growth (cf. generally Barro, Sala-i-Martin (1995)). The analysis is restricted to two regions embedded in the State. The supply side of the model is represented by different regional production functions which generate regional factor demand. Demand-side determination of equilibrium regional incomes arises from the definitions of national accounting enriched by basic behavioral relationships. Substantial consideration is given to the equalization of regional supply and demand in diverging cases (e. g., excess demand in one of the two regions). Changes in factor stocks (differential equations) maintain the dynamics of the model. Regional competition is expressed by variations of regional and state parameters. Their numerical influences on growth will be dealt with in Bobzin (2001).
  Bobozin (2001): Reallocating Resources
  Computer Simulation of Reallocating Resources among Growing Regions
  Hagen Bobzin
  University of Siegen, Siegen/Germany
  Based on the approach presented by Buhr (2001) the computer simulation is concerned with the growth effects on the generation, the distribution, and the use of income. At first the private and public sectors as well as the state fix certain parameters which determine their behavior for the entire period under consideration. The simulation computes the results with respect to regional and national growth. The ensuing parameter variations reflect regional competition. The outcomes of the simulation runs are then used to determine an optimal behavior with respect to sectoral objectives. On the one hand, the private sectors try to increase an overall utility index which depends on the time path of consumption per capita; in this sense the private sectors compete for consumable and investment commodities. On the other hand, it is the task of the public sectors to supply public capital to the private sectors and to strengthen the productivity of labor by expenditures on education. Moreover, the public sectors may allocate subsidies to attract private capital from the other region. The means needed for public expenditures mainly stem from a taxation of private income. According to this idea the public sectors organize and determine the results of competition. Finally, the state imposes a tax on public incomes and reallocates these resources in order to improve the situation of one region or of both regions together. Now the state can be interpreted as an institution correcting the process of competition to some extent.
• Economic Decisions by Approved Principles: Rules of Thumb as Behavioral Guidelines, in: F. Bolle, M. Carlberg, Advances in Behavioral Economics, Essays in Honor of Horst Todt, Heidelberg, Physica, 2001, pp. 25-38 (with T. Christiaans).
• Statische Skalenerträge (Static Economies of Scale), in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 31. Jg., 2002, pp. 572-582 (with T. Christiaans).
• Dynamic Economies of Scale, in: Das Wirtschaftsstudium, 31. vol., 2002, pp. 967-973 (with T. Christiaans).
• General Considerations on Infrastructure: Essence of the Term, Role of the State, Impacts of Population Decline and Aging, in: X. Feng, A. M.Popescu (eds.), Infrastrukturprobleme bei Bevölkerungsrückgang (Infrastructure Problems under Population Decline), Schriften zur öffentlichen Verwaltung und öffentlichen Wirtschaft, vol. 202, Berlin, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, 2007, pp. 13-48.
• Infrastructure of the Market Economy, Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge, Discussion Paper No. 132-09, Department of Economics, Business Information Systems and Business Law, University of Siegen, Siegen 2009 (cf. http://ideas. repec.org/s/sie/siegen.html)
• Institutional Economics: A Sketch of Economic Growth Policy, Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge, Discussion Paper No. 183-18, University of Siegen, School of Economic Disciplines, Business Information Systems and Economic Law, Siegen 2018 (cf. http://ideas.repec.org/s/sie/siegen.html)

• Translation of R. J. Barro, X. Sala-i-Martin, Economic Growth, New York, McGraw Hill, 1995 into German: R. J. Barro, X. Sala-i-Martin, Wirtschaftswachstum, Munich, Oldenbourg, 1998 (626 pages).

Memberships

1. Member of the Verein für Socialpolitik, since 1963;
   member of the "Regional Theory and Policy" committee, since 1976,
2. Member of the List Society since 1965 and of the American Economic Association since 1974.

Curriculum vitae

• Year of birth: 1938, place of birth: Bremen
• Diploma in economics, University of Freiburg/Br., 1961
• Dr. rer. pol. University of Freiburg/Br., 1965
• Habilitation: Private lecturer in economics, University of Kiel, 1972
• Research Assistant, University of Kiel, 1966-1972
• Research Associate, University of California at Berkeley/Calif., USA, 1968-1970
• Lecturer, University of Kiel, 1973
• Full Professor of Economics, University of Siegen (UGS), 1973-1986
• University Professor of Economics, UGS, since 1987
• Dean of the Department of Economics, UGS, 1982-1983
• Member of the (University) Senate, UGS, 1989-1991
• Dean of the Department of Economics, UGS, 1999-2002
• Emeritus 2003