Ongoing differences and ongoing transfers?

Abstract

"The German Reunification is an excellent touchstone to analyse the impact of the divergent labour markets on both sides of the Berlin Wall since capitalist pension law was simply transferred to the former socialist system. In Germany old age incomes rest on individual wage biographies. Apart from individual biographic decisions, this makes individuals dependent from labour market conditions. The labour market conditions are shown to be a result of political decision making and self - perpetuating processes after Reunification. The changes in power resources of different actors such as the unionists and the Treuhandanstalt had consequences that explain ongoing differences between both parts of Germany. The specific developments in East Germany created winners and losers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Czepek, J. (2015): Ongoing differences and ongoing transfers? The role of labour market conditions in pension entrances in east and West Germany. In: Research in Social Change, Vol. 7, No. 3, p. 249-275.