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The Local Politics of Social Investment Under Fiscal Constraints:The Case of Childcare Expansion in Germany
No full textGovernments in many of the advanced economies expanded childcare, an exemplary social investment policy, in recent years. Yet, considerable regional variation exists in expansion efforts, and often the supply of childcare still does not match demand. We explore the politics of this regional variation by studying Germany, a country that recently introduced a legal entitlement to childcare. Despite this legal entitlement, we argue that local political and economic factors (continue to) matter for childcare expansion and regional variation in coverage. We expect left-wing local political majorities to be associated with higher expansion and coverage rates. At the same time, tight local fiscal constraints should limit partisan room for maneuver and should slow down expansion. Analyzing local-level data on childcare coverage rates, socioeconomic context factors, and government partisanship, we find evidence of conditional effects between fiscal and partisan variables. We furthermore examine how local governments reconcile gaps in childcare provision with the legal entitlement and what distributive consequences this has
Internationalization Strategies in the Energy Sector from Local Players to Global Giants: A Case Based Study
No full textThis paper examines the internationalization strategies of the large energy corporations based on a comparative case study approach. Its purpose is to uncover strategic directions and ascertain how the companies respond to different geopolitical and regulative environments. Framed by the Uppsala Model, Eclectic Paradigm, and Internalization Theory, the research highlights the same practices including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and the focus on renewable sources. Findings report varying orientations—some firms prioritize market-led growth, whereas others emphasize sustainability. The Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America case studies illustrate how firms respond to local bottlenecks and opportunities. Theory-based, adaptive, and context-specific approaches are reported to enhance resilience and competitiveness on a global scale.Published versio
