Studio Guest – Thomas Straubhaar on young female entrepreneurs

Thomas Straubhaar is the Presodent of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI) We’ll speak to him about the new generation of young female business leaders. DW-TV: Well, let's take an even closer look at whether or not working for a woman provides a better working atmosphere. Professor Thomas Straubhaar, president of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, is here to tell us what HE thinks... First, how many women hold senior positions at your institute? Thomas Straubhaar: As an open-minded institute we try to share equally the senior jobs between men and women – we aim for fifty-fifty. We are close to it. But we haven't reached this goal completely. DW-TV: You have been working on a study called "More chances for women – a change of system rather than system correction" – What do your results have to say so far? Thomas Straubhaar: Our result is that it is very hard to explain why in Germany women are so under represented in the economy. In an ageing, declining society we need to try our best to bring in women to the top jobs according to their qualification. It is neccessary to do this as soon as possible. DW-TV: It may be neccessary, but many companies don't. Microsoft is a big company that's going completely against the grain because normally, the bigger the company, the fewer women to be found in top positions. In small companies with up to 9 employees women make up some 26 percent of those holding leadership positions. In large companies –with a staff of 500 or more – that number drops dramatically – to only 4 percent. Why is that? Thomas Straubhaar: Because there is still old thinking is many German firms. We need instruments to increase possibilities for women to share their roles as mothers and as professionals in senior positions. They need daily care for their kids, they need part-time jobs, home office possibilities, so that women are paid according to performance and not according to just being there – sitting there and doing what they could do at home. DW-TV: But ARE they paid according to their performance? In Germany, women earn on average about 20 percent less than their male colleagues – how come? Thomas Straubhaar: It shows that women have to accept lower wages just to show that they can do the same job as their male counterpart. DW-TV: Let’s change the topic and turn to IT. This week the Cebit IT-technology fare starts in Hannover. Thomas Straubhaar: Germany is very strong in the automobile sector and in the chemical and engineering sectors ... but when it comes to IT, we only play a minor role. Why is that? Thomas Straubhaar: That is correct. But still I'm not worried by this outcome. I think it's less a question of whether you produce in Germany but whether German firms are able to apply this information technology at their best use. So I think we do a good job of applying this information technology to produce even better cars and better machinery. I don't think we need to worry about this. DW-TV: Ok. But what seems to be good enough for Germany doesn't seem to be good enough for many other countries. For example, South Korea, which invested about 3.6 percent of its 2005 GNP into the IT-sector, the US follows closely with some 3.5 percent. In Europe, France invested 2.3 percent whereas Germany is clearly lagging behind with only 1.8 percent. Is that wise? Shouldn't we show more interest in this sector? Thomas Straubhaar: Not neccessarily. As long as we do a good job with machinery, car factories and electronics, producing hard material and old economy stuff – it's much more a question of whether we are able to keep pace with information technologies and applying them. It's not a question of money but of being able to push new technologies and new products. DW-TV: We should basically make use of the fact that we live in an age of globalisation and not worry so much about producing certain parts of technology ourselves. Thomas Straubhaar: Exactly. It belongs to the patterns and process of globalisation that countries specialise in specific products and services in the value chain. The most important thing is that you have something to sell on the world market and as long as we do, there's no problem. Interview: Monika Jones

DW-World | March 4, 2008

Tags:. .rather. .paid. .example. .specific. .sectors