The intergenerational transmission of education in East and West Germany

Abstract

"The reunification of East and West Germany brought with it great changes for East Germany in the educational sector. The school structures from the times of the GDR were adapted to suit the West German system. Together with the political liberalisation, it was to be expected that career opportunities increased, both in general and also in respect to education. The question was whether the passing on of school education from parents to children (educational mobility) changed - and adapted to that of West Germany - through the replacement of the educational system. The initial conditions in the year 1991 represent the educational mobility in East and West Germany before reunification. The changes in educational mobility, then shown, mirror the way in which the East Germans adapted to the new educational system. It becomes apparent that educational mobility rates are only approaching those of the West German system very slowly." (author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Riphahn, R. & Trübswetter, P. (2011): Die Veränderung der Bildungsmobilität in Ost- und Westdeutschland nach der Wiedervereinigung. In: Ifo Dresden berichtet, Vol. 18, No. 6, p. 7-13.