Communication with public authorities over the internet is becoming more and more popular. According to the German Association of Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) 32% of all Germans aged between 16 and 74 used online services provided by public authorities in the year 2006 such as downloading documents or filling in forms online. Back in 2002 only one sixth of Germans had used such services. Thus, these electronic services make life easier to the general public and at the same time help to save taxpayer´s money. more…

Almost 60% of German managers have never received any gratification. This was revealed in the course of a survey conducted by the StepStone online job market. Just 28% of German executives and specialists said to have contractual gratifications agreed upon with their employers. Another 14% said to receive gratifications on an irregular basis in case that their companies are very successful. more…

Small and medium-sized entities are contributing the lion share to economic growth also in China. They produce 68% of all Chinese exports which is much more than in other countries. Given that Chinese exports are growing twice as much as the Chinese economy as a whole, small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) generate the lion share of Chinese growth, as was said by Chris Hall who is an Australian economist in an interesting article for the ifo-Institute. more…

According to the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) German exports will increase by just 8% in 2007 (after 14% in 2006). For 2008 experts forecast an increase by 9% and an export value exceeding one trillion Euros. However, China is set to take over from Germany as the world’s leading exporting country in 2008 given that China’s exports grow by about 20% annually, predicts the DIHK. more…

Opinions on credit assessments which were introduced in the course of Basel II are divided among German small and medium-sized entities (SMEs). The »MIND – SMEs in Germany« study which is regularly conducted by the Deutsche Sparkassen- und Giroverband (DSGV) and the »impulse« business magazine revealed that fifty percent of the more than 500 company bosses questioned think that the new rating process had not been worthwhile. The other half, however, said that there have been benefits to their companies. more…

Proprietary companies are to be defined in a uniform way throughout the EU. Therefore the European Commission considers the introduction of uniform rules and regulations for the „European proprietary company«. The new legal form is to facilitate cross-border business in particular to small and medium-sized entities. more…

According to the Federal Statistical Office the German consumer price index for Germany will probably rise by 1.9% in July this year as compared to July 2006. In June this year the annual increase was 1.8%. As compared to June 2007 prices rose by 0.4% in July 2007. more…

The EU Commission advocates more involvement of shareholders in determining the salaries of top managers. In this context two reports were presented which both come to the conclusion that even though corporate governance standards are being applied they are not used frequently enough. more…

One cannot really image today´s world without electronic mail. Two thirds of people over the age of 14 (61%) have an email address. There are hardly differences between West (62%) and East Germany (57%), but between genders. Men much more often have an email address (69%) than women (53%). The diffusion of email has consequences for email marketing and the customer service of companies. more…

A survey by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim and the Erste Bank der österreichischen Sparkassen in Vienna suggests that the economic situation in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will hardly change over the next six months. Those questioned said that the current state of the economy is good. more…