Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg - L-Bank

Industrial Structure
General Position of Industry
The largest share of the gross value added to the GDP of Baden-Württemberg is attributable to services and
other activities and to manufacturing. Commerce and transportation, like agriculture and forestry, are of less
significance.
The following table shows the gross value added in current prices to the GDP of Baden-Württemberg during
each of the years indicated:
Gross Value Added in Baden-Württemberg*
2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
(in %)
Attributable to: ...................................................
Manufacturing ............................................... 37.3 37.7 38.3 38.7 38.2
Agriculture and forestry ........................................ 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.0
Commerce and transportation ................................... 15.8 15.8 15.8 15.2 14.7
Services and other activities ..................................... 46.1 45.7 44.9 45.0 46.2
* Date of computation: August 2003/February 2004.
Source: State Statistical Office Baden-Württemberg and own calculations, data on economy and prices,
available at www.statistik.baden-wuerttemberg.de/Veroeffentl/Statistische_Berichte/Sachgeb.asp?P,
PDF 4151 03001.
Branches of Industry
The branches of industry with the greatest significance in Baden-Württemberg are the machinery, electrical
engineering and automotive industries. Of somewhat less importance are the chemical industry and the textile
and garment industries. Together with the metalworking industries, these six branches employ about three
quarters of the persons employed in industrial enterprises in Baden-Württemberg.
From a geographic perspective, Baden-Württemberg’s industrial structure is evenly spread throughout its
territory. In addition to the industrial center in the central Neckar area around Stuttgart, there are a number of
other industrial centers, including Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Ulm, Heilbronn and Villingen-Schwennigen. The
primarily rural, less densely-populated areas of Baden-Württemberg are also for the most part well supplied with
industrial enterprises. The small and medium-sized (SME) component of the economy of Baden-Württemberg is
particularly pronounced.
Tourism
Baden-Württemberg has numerous bathing resorts and is one of the most significant states for spas in
Germany. The city of Heidelberg, home of the oldest university in Germany, and other well known tourist
destinations, such as the Black Forest and Lake Constance, attract many German and foreign tourists. Baden-
Württemberg is one of the states with the largest amount of tourist traffic in Germany.
Prices and Wages
Prices in Germany generally have been stable. In 2003, prices increased by 1.1%, and in 2002 by 1.4%.
Since January 1, 1999, the European Central Bank (ECB) has assumed the task of conducting the single
monetary policy for the Euro-zone, having a free hand to maintain price and currency stability in the Euro-zone.
Before 1999, monetary policy in Germany was conducted by the Deutsche Bundesbank, which served as a model
for the ECB in respect of its independence from political influence.
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