The eastern Germany transformation society: on the continuation of structures and ways of behaviour

Abstract

"This article examines - roughly 20 years after German unity was established - whether the eastern part of Germany still differs from the western part in respect to important socioeconomic structures and behaviours. Common features have evolved in connection with behaviour in relation to births and also in connection with deaths; in addition participation in education, measured by means of the Abitur (university entrance qualification) rate hardly shows any differences. On the other hand, the proportion of persons with a migration background lies distinctly below, and that of gainfully employed mothers working full time distinctly above the ratios in the western part of Germany. The net loss through migration to the scale of 1.8 million persons in the course of the 20 years since the creation of German unity, together with the postponement in births, leads to an echo effect which considerably reduces the future potential of those capable of work and renders securing the supply of skilled workers a central challenge in the eastern part of Germany." (author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Kubis, A., Lang, C., Schneider, L. & Heimpold, G. (2011): Ostdeutsche Transformationsgesellschaft: Zum Fortbestand von Strukturen und Verhaltensweisen. In: A. Lorenz (Hrsg.) (2011): Ostdeutschland und die Sozialwissenschaften : Bilanz und Perspektiven 20 Jahre nach der Wiedervereinigung, p. 189-207.