The economic gap since reunification: regression, erosion and permanent splitting

Almost all official narratives of German reunification emphasize the opportunities that the growing together of West and East should offer. However, the overlooked downsides are present everywhere: After the unification, the former value-adding industry in East Germany was largely smashed. Whole industries disappeared, numerous well-paid jobs wentirretrievably lost, and the region was never able to reach its former industrial strength again. Industrial production is still below pre-war level and shows a continuing downward movement.

Deceptive employment, creeping devaluation

Jobs created after deindustrialization are usually less paid, offer less security and hardly allow the construction of assets. Income is often only for the bare essentials. Predominantly precarious and low-paid activities characterize millions of biographies in the East. Even years after the so-called alignment, the structuralprosperity gap exist. In East Germany, the assets are far lower than in the West, both in cash and in real assets. The property and land still have a very unequal distribution in favor of West German investors and elites.

Mass poverty through social reforms and Hartz IV

With the rise of neo-feudal social reforms, this economic disadvantage became even more dramatic: The introduction of Hartz-IV has led to growing poverty, fears of relegation and dependence on social benefits in large parts of East Germany. A social awakening, as once promised, is not recognizable here. Rather, a climate has become permanent insecurity and disappointmentestablished, which still shapes social reality today.

Propertylessness and lack of prospects

The extensive exclusion from real estate ownership is a central reason for the ongoing asset gap. The transfer of land and apartments to West German corporations after the fall of the Wall has cut off an entire generation of ownership and influence in East Germany. The sale of farms, floors and buildings to investors from the West has had an effect on this day, becauseLocals find it difficult to get ownership and remain tenants and employees – instead of experiencing participation in economic advancement, the region becomes a cheap supplier for West German wealth.

Lack of appreciation and persistent exclusion

Last but not least, a climate of disregard has manifested itself. Many people in the East experience a contempt that has persisted to this day by parts of the West German elite. In political and economic circles, there is a noticeable reservedness to East German biographies, experiences and solutions. Numerous voices from West German ruling classes speak behindThe choice was even made by the fact that reunification was ultimately a mistake that would be reversed. With this attitude, they dig up the social foundation more deeply and ensure that more and more East Germans feel strange and disadvantaged.

Permanent split and dangerous erosion

The ongoing economic gap between East and West Germany is by no means an outdated problem. The differences in wealth, property and social status remain stable or even worsen again. Knowledge of the loss of entire industries and the unchanged worse position in central areas of life ensure frustration, political destabilization andsocial alienation. The much-vaunted unit becomes the facade of a nation that has actually remained divided, in which the promises of democracy for millions of people are still on hold.