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In this paper, we use a novel firm level dataset for Germany to investigate the effect of sanctions on export behaviour and performance of German firms. More specifically, we study the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia in 2014 in response to the annexation of Crimea and Russia's countermeasures. We find a substantial negative effect on both the extensive and intensive margin of German exports. While the negative effects are strongest for firms exporting products subject to trade restrictions, we provide further evidence on the indirect effects of sanctions. Analysing the impact on broader measures of firm performance, we document that the cost of sanctions is heterogeneous across firms but overall modest. Our results reveal that the negative impact of the shock was concentrated primarily among a small number of firms that were highly dependent on Russia as an export market and those directly affected by the sanctions.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a sudden reassessment of political and economic relations with Russia, including financial and trade relations. This policy brief analyzes a new firm-level dataset for Germany to examine the involvement of German firms in the Russian and Ukrainian markets. We analyse the impact of the annexation of Crimea and related sanctions in 2014 and identify the degree and shape of vulnerability of German trade with respect to these two markets on the firm level. The firm-level data reveals that Russia and Ukraine have become less important as trading partners at both the extensive margin and the intensive margin. So far, recovery effects have been observed merely for German-Ukrainian trade. Within the group of firms trading with Russia and Ukraine, we see a clear heterogeneity, which in turn is reflected in individual vulnerability towards the affected markets. Der Einmarsch Russlands in die Ukraine hat zu einer plötzlichen Neubewertung der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zu Russland geführt, einschließlich der Finanz- und Handelsbeziehungen. In diesem Policy Brief wird ein neuer Datensatz auf Unternehmensebene für Deutschland analysiert, um das Engagement deutscher Unternehmen auf dem russischen und ukrainischen Markt zu untersuchen. Wir analysieren die Auswirkungen der Annexion der Krim und der damit verbundenen Sanktionen im Jahr 2014 und ermitteln den Grad und die Form der Vulnerabilität des deutschen Handels in Bezug auf diese beiden Märkte auf Unternehmensebene. Die Daten auf Unternehmensebene zeigen, dass Russland und die Ukraine sowohl am extensiven Rand als auch am intensiven Rand als Handelspartner an Bedeutung verloren haben. Erholungseffekte können seitdem lediglich für den deutsch-ukrainischen Handel beobachtet werden. Innerhalb der Gruppe der Unternehmen, die mit Russland und der Ukraine handeln, zeichnet sich eine deutliche Heterogenität ab, die sich wiederum in der individuellen Vulnerabilität gegenüber den betroffenen Märkten widerspiegelt.

The interdisciplinary BonaRes collaborative project SOILAssist serves the ‘Sustainable protection and improvement of soil functions with intelligent land management strategies’ by developing a practical on-the-fly assistance system for farmers (grant number 031A563A). In its first phase, the SOILAssist sub-project ‘Acceptance and Implementation’ consisted of a literature and media analysis (Project Deliverable D11), a survey and a compilation (`Yellow Pages’ Soil Compaction) and this analysis with Official recommendations for the prevention of soil compaction on arable land (Deliverable D12). The aim was an analysis of legal regulations on the state and federal levels, including performance assessments as well as interconnections to the EU level. Also completed were a detailed analysis of brochures, flyers and other recommendation tools. This analysis (closing date: February 22, 2018) is based on an internet search and therefore does not claim completeness. The topic ‘soil compaction’ is addressed in most governmental information material on the state and federal levels. Nevertheless, the quality of the content and the practicability vary in value. This analysis shows that prevention of soil compaction is. Thus, it becomes clear that the application of the laws (German Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG), German Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance (BBodSchV)) is regulated heterogeneously due to the complex federal structure in Germany. Overall, the implementation of the BBodSchG and the BBodSchV is seen as very difficult and – with some exceptions – lacking in exactness, comprehensibility, availability and timeliness of the materials. On federal state initiated a stakeholder-oriented discussion series and has used the consensus principle to successfully reach agreement on prevention of soil compaction. Results derived here are to be set in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Agenda 2030, EU-soil policies and the 7th Environmental Action Programme until 2020 (7th EAP). A stakeholder agreement on prevention of soil compaction seems to be – given the potential for improvement of the regulatory law and its performance – an adequate bottom-up solution or a suitable ‘vehicle of change’ for reaching a location-specific soil management. Launched in 2015, the funding initiative BonaRes of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is headquartered at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). It will serve to deliver a scientific basis to strengthen sustainable soil use within the bioeconomy (Soil as a sustainable resource for the bioeconomy – BonaRes). The funding initiative is part of the German National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 which focuses on a systemic approach. The SOILAssist sub-project ‘Acceptance and Implementation’ has already brought some results into public debate (in the period since 08/2015)., DOI:10.3220/WP1604915142000

Berichte aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut, vol. 215