Christina Wolf
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christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf
@christina-wolf.bsky.social
860 followers 390 following 68 posts

Senior Lecturer @Univerity of Hertfordshire, heterodox economist with focus on industrial policy. Bereaved parent.

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christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
Very pleased to share my latest article: “The making and unmaking of uneven development: the role of anchor firms in creating and overcoming industrial decline in East Germany” in the Journal of Economic Geography: doi.org/10.1093/jeg/...

A 🧵
The making and unmaking of uneven development: the role of anchor firms in creating and overcoming industrial decline in East Germany
Abstract. This article theoretically explores the structural drivers of regional development traps by integrating core–periphery theories with industrial g
doi.org

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Benjamin Braun , and 1 more

jomichell.bsky.social
Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 11d
New research!

Austerity and the labour market in the UK.

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Headline result: austerity reduced wages, increased employment rates, and contributed to weak productivity.

1/n
Estimating the effects of austerity on the labour market: Evidence from Great Britain
Between 2010 and 2019, in response to concern about the public finances, the UK government imposed substantial cuts to public spending. This austerity programme
papers.ssrn.com

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
This does not necessarily mean reviving old-style conglomerates. Modern anchor firms can emerge from state-backed initiatives, university spin-offs, or cooperative ownership models, especially if tied to mission-oriented policies supporting the green and digital transitions. #13

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
Lesson: regional inequality is not inevitable. It is shaped by how economies are organised and who controls their productive assets. Rebuilding/ nurturing anchor firm functions in peripheral regions is crucial. #12

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
shows how reconstituting anchor-firm functions can reshape regional trajectories. In this case, state-owned and foundation-based firms in photonics, medical technology, and precision engineering played a pivotal role in reconstructing coordinated productive ecosystems. #11

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
Yet the East German experience demonstrates not only the destructive consequences of dismantling anchor firms, but also the developmental potential of strategically rebuilding and nurturing them. Examining the industrial recovery of the opto-electronics cluster around Jena #10

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
This leaves East German productive ecosystems highly vulnerable. #9

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
To this day, East German regional economies are dominated by small manufacturing firms lacking local anchors as shown below in the distribution of headquarters. #8

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
Example: Rudolstadt’s X-ray technology cluster. Once a technology development hub that coordinated specialised suppliers, the site became an end- assembly location after acquisition by Siemens. Engineers departed, supplier networks collapsed, and the ecosystem lost its technological core. #7

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
The strategy of selling most E. German firms directly to W. German competitors, required dismantling the industrial combines that served as regional anchor firms. Their profitable divisions were absorbed into Western headquarters, while remaining sites became low-value branch plants or closed. #6

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
East Germany after reunification illustrates these dynamics: Experiencing one of the most severe episodes of deindustrialisation in post-war Europe, it has seen a profound restructuring of regional productive ecosystems. #5

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
3/ Erosion of peripheral capabilities: Where anchor firms are absent, peripheral regions lose key productive capabilities, as highly skilled labour and innovative firms tend to cluster in close proximity to anchor firms. #4

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
2/ Reinforcement of social and economic divisions: This produces corresponding social divisions of labour—uneven job types, income, wealth, and social status—while rendering peripheral regions dependent on technologies controlled and investment decisions made by parent firms. #3

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
Their presence—or absence—shapes regional hierarchies of value creation:
1/ Concentration of high value-added functions: By centralising decision-making and R&D in core regions while relegating peripheral regions to branch-plant roles, they drive spatial differentiation in value creation. #2

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · 22d
I explore regional development #traps attributing the structural vulnerability of peripheral regions to the lack of #anchor firms in their productive #ecosystems.
Anchor firms = large, regionally headquartered firms in proprietary control over key technologies. #1

Reposted by Christina Wolf

rodriguez-pose.bsky.social
Andrés Rodríguez-Pose @rodriguez-pose.bsky.social · 22d
You can’t transfuse vitality into a region stripped of its #ecosystem anchors overnight.
As @christina-wolf.bsky.social shows in her new JoEG article, gutting East German #cities & #regions of their local anchor firms reduced them to highly-vulnerable 'Satellite Platforms'.
doi.org/10.1093/jeg/...

Reposted by Bruno Amable, Benjamin Braun, Christina Wolf

bbonizzi.bsky.social
Bruno Bonizzi @bbonizzi.bsky.social · Oct 27
Our article with @hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social and Ben Tippet is out in Socio-Economic Review!

We examine pension financialisation and pension wealth inequality in the UK — focusing on how the rise of Defined Contribution (DC).

academic.oup.com/ser/advance-...
Pension financialization and workplace pension wealth inequality: evidence from Britain
Abstract. The growth of Defined Contribution (DC) pensions, in which retirement depends on individual savings and financial market investments, has been a
academic.oup.com

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · May 6
🚨 5 Fully Funded PhD Scholarships at the University of Hertfordshire's CFSR

Topics include:
🌍 Public Banks & the Just Transition
🌿 Drivers of Green Discontent
⚡ Geopolitics of Green Hydrogen

Apply here 👉 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMT230/f...
More topics 👉 www.herts.ac.uk/research/cen...

Please share!

Reposted by Christina Wolf

hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social
hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social @hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social · Apr 23
📢📢Financing #netzero at local level - in partnership with
@londoncouncils.bsky.social, we explained why central funding is more sensible for scaling-up #local netzero investments.
londoncouncils.gov.uk/news-and-pre...

@christina-wolf.bsky.social @benbraun.bsky.social @bbonizzi.bsky.social
Financing Local Net Zero policy paper | London Councils – Home
London Councils has partnered with the University of Hertfordshire to produce Financing Local Net Zero - a policy paper on the public finance routes available to councils to address barriers to climat...
londoncouncils.gov.uk

Reposted by Christina Wolf

hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social
hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social @hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social · Apr 23
Great to see this piece by on our #netzero work with
@londoncouncils - www.themj.co.uk/comparing-fu...: central government is in a better position to borrow at the scale required to fund netzero.
@christina-wolf.bsky.social @bbonizzi.bsky.social
Comparing funding options for local decarbonisation
Securing funding for the work councils are doing to get to net zero is essential – whether it's to make homes cheaper and greener to heat or to build charging infrastructure...
www.themj.co.uk

Reposted by Christina Wolf, Björn Bremer

pkohlhase.bsky.social
Pauline Kohlhase @pkohlhase.bsky.social · Mar 21
To all female scholars, working in the broad field of political economy: Apply for the Max Planck Summer School for women in political economy! Two years ago we had a blast!
www.mpifg.de/1343511/2025....
Max Planck Summer School for Women in Political Economy
www.mpifg.de

Reposted by Christina Wolf, Daniel Mertens

dustinvoss.bsky.social
Dustin Voss @dustinvoss.bsky.social · Mar 14
*Call for Applications*

We’re excited to announce the Second Max Planck Summer School for Women in Political Economy!

Link to the conference website: www.mpifg.de/1343511/2025...

Please share widely!

@mpifg.bsky.social @palmapolyak.bsky.social
Max Planck Summer School for Women in Political Economy
www.mpifg.de

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · Feb 25
@jomichell.bsky.social @anninak.bsky.social @bbonizzi.bsky.social @karstenkohler.bsky.social @christiankoutny.bsky.social @hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social @redjen.bsky.social

#PhD #Economics #PluralistEconomics #AcademicConference #Networking

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · Feb 25
📢The 2025 PKES-YSI PhD Conference will be hosted at the University of Hertfordshire!
If you are PhD student in pluralist economics, apply by Fri 7 March, to receive feedback on your work from a senior academic + connect with like-minded researchers.

More info: ysi.ineteconomics.org/event/16th-p...

Reposted by Christina Wolf

powelljr.bsky.social
Jeff Powell @powelljr.bsky.social · Feb 25
🚨Great funded PhD opportunity working on decarbonising public transport in the Global South - pls share! www.gre.ac.uk/docs/rep/com...
Decarbonisation Through Public Ownership: Transforming Public Transport in the Global South | Documents | University of Greenwich
Closing Date: 23 March 2025
www.gre.ac.uk

christina-wolf.bsky.social
Christina Wolf @christina-wolf.bsky.social · Feb 20
📣 Calling PhD candidates in pluralist economics and political economy! Do apply for our PhD workshop held at University of Hertfordshire this year 👇
bbonizzi.bsky.social Bruno Bonizzi @bbonizzi.bsky.social · Feb 20
The PKES PhD conference this year will be at Herts.

If you are a PhD student with interest in pluralist economics consider applying! You will get your work discussed by a senior academic, and meet like-minded people.

More details (incl application link) here ysi.ineteconomics.org/event/16th-p...
16th PKES PhD Student Conference (supported by YSI) – YSI INET
ysi.ineteconomics.org

Reposted by Christina Wolf

bbonizzi.bsky.social
Bruno Bonizzi @bbonizzi.bsky.social · Feb 20
The PKES PhD conference this year will be at Herts.

If you are a PhD student with interest in pluralist economics consider applying! You will get your work discussed by a senior academic, and meet like-minded people.

More details (incl application link) here ysi.ineteconomics.org/event/16th-p...
16th PKES PhD Student Conference (supported by YSI) – YSI INET
ysi.ineteconomics.org

Reposted by Paul Wilding, Christina Wolf

sustainabletall.bsky.social
Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · Jan 2
It’s over 1,000km from Berlin to Paris

There’s now a direct daytime train between them, that takes 8 hours and costs just €59. Leave at 10am, arrive 6pm.

And… it’s just 1% the carbon emissions of the equivalent flight

www.euronews.com/travel/2024/...
High-speed Paris-Berlin daily train service debuts
The route is the first directly linking the two capitals' city centres.
www.euronews.com

Reposted by Christina Wolf

juliusk.bsky.social
Julius Kölzer @juliusk.bsky.social · Jan 2
The last General Election has seen much talk about Reform UK's popularity in so-called 'left-behind places, characterized by socioeconomic deprivation. Looking at variation in deprivation levels across the UK's constituencies suggests this pattern exists, but only partially. A short thread. 🧵

Reposted by Christina Wolf

hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social
hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social @hulya-dagdeviren.bsky.social · Dec 16
📯 PhD Scholarship opportunity at University of Greenwich. Applications by 3 Jan 2025.
www.gre.ac.uk/__data/asset...
www.gre.ac.uk