Prevalence, Course, and Risk Factors for Mental Disorders in Young Adults and Their Parents in East and West Germany

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 1918-1936 ◽  
Author(s):  
WOLFGANG IHLE ◽  
GÚUNTER ESSER ◽  
MARTIN H. SCHMIDT ◽  
BERND BLANZ ◽  
OLAF REIS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
East Germany ◽  
Externalizing Disorders ◽  
West Germany ◽  
German Reunification ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
East And West

In this article, the authors present data from two longitudinal studies starting long before German reunification in East and West Germany. After unification, 533 twenty-five-year-olds and their parents were interviewed about mental health status, experience of life events and difficulties, and social support. The findings show that (a) externalizing disorders were more common in West Germany, whereas internalizing disorders were more common in East Germany; (b) there was a generation-specific differential course of disorders in East Germany after unification; and (c) the detrimental effect of life events and chronic difficulties on mental health could be weakened by kin and nonkin social support.

Geschlechtsspezifische Ost-West-Unterschiede im Erwerbsverlauf

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 445-466
Author(s):  
Dana Müller ◽  
Michaela Fuchs
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
East Germany ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Gender Specific Differences ◽  
East And West ◽  
Gender Specific

Zusammenfassung Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die Entwicklung geschlechtsspezifischer Ungleichheiten über die letzten drei Jahrzehnte in Ost- und Westdeutschland. Unterschiede zwischen beiden Regionen bestehen nach wie vor. Sie haben ihren Ursprung in den verschiedenen gesellschaftlichen Ansätzen der Gleichstellung der Geschlechter vor der Wiedervereinigung und den unterschiedlichen strukturellen Gegebenheiten am Arbeitsmarkt. Dennoch besitzen nach wie vor weder die Frauen in Westdeutschland noch in Ostdeutschland die gleichen Einkommens- und Karrierechancen wie Männer. Die Bemühungen des Staates, den Abbau geschlechtsspezifischer Ungleichheiten voranzutreiben, werden anhand der zahlreichen Maßnahmen der letzten Jahre sichtbar. Sie reichen aber noch nicht aus, wie die Zahlen im Beitrag zeigen. Abstract: Gender-specific Differences on the Labour Market in East and West Germany This article describes the development of gender inequalities over the last three decades in East and West Germany. There are still differences between the two regions. They have their origin in the different social concepts to gender equality before reunification and the different structural conditions on the labour market. Nevertheless, not only women in West Germany but also in East Germany still do not have the same income and career opportunities as men. The state’s efforts to promote the reduction of gender-specific inequalities are evident from the numerous measures taken in recent years. However, they are not yet sufficient.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Post-Socialist Transition on Inequality of Educational Opportunity: Evidence from German Unification

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-473
Author(s):  
Bastian A Betthäuser
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Educational Inequality ◽  
East Germany ◽  
West Germany ◽  
German Unification ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
East And West ◽  
Inequality Of Educational Opportunity

Abstract In 1990, German unification led to an abrupt and extensive restructuring of the educational system and economy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) as the latter was reintegrated into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). However, the consequences of this large-scale institutional change for the educational inequality between children from different social class backgrounds in East Germany continue to be poorly understood. This article seeks to shed new light on this question by using a quasi-experimental approach to examine the difference in educational inequality between East and West Germany before and after German unification. We compare changes in the class gradient in the attainment of comparable school and university qualifications in East and West Germany across six birth cohorts, including three cohorts of individuals who completed their schooling after unification. We find that before unification, inequality of educational opportunity at the mid-secondary, upper-secondary and tertiary level was substantially lower in East Germany than in West Germany and that unification led to a substantial and sustained convergence of the level of inequality of educational opportunity in East Germany towards that of West Germany.

Catching-up of East German Labour Productivity in the 1990s

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Barrell ◽  
Dirk Willem te Velde
Keyword(s):  
East Germany ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
Catching Up ◽  
East German ◽  
East And West ◽  
Organization Of Production

Abstract We provide empirical evidence for exogenous and endogenous catching-up of East German labour productivity to West German levels. We argue that labour productivity in East Germany has caught up faster than has happened elsewhere. The sudden formation of the German Monetary Union was followed by large transfers to East Germany, migration of workers to West Germany, reorganization and privatization of East German firms. This has quickly led to a partial closing of the organizational, idea and object gaps that existed between East and West Germany. This paper analyses labour productivity in East and West Germany using both aggregate German data and unbalanced panel analysis of developments in East and West Germany. Factors affecting the organization of production, and especially privatization and `foreign' firms, are found to be particularly important in this context.

Öffentliche Haushalte in Ost- und Westdeutschland nach 30 Jahren – Vergleichende Bestandsaufnahme aus finanzwissenschaftlicher Perspektive

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 395-416
Author(s):  
Mario Hesse ◽  
Thomas Lenk ◽  
Philipp Glinka
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
East Germany ◽  
West Germany ◽  
German Unification ◽  
Fiscal Equalization ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
30Th Anniversary ◽  
Degree Of Equivalence ◽  
East And West ◽  
High Degree

Zusammenfassung Das 30-jährige Jubiläum der Deutschen Einheit gibt Anlass zu einer Erfolgsanalyse. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht verschiedene Aspekte der Angleichung zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland aus einer finanzwissenschaftlichen Perspektive. Der Fokus liegt auf der Entwicklung der Länder- und kommunalen Haushalte. Einnahmenseitig haben sich das System des bundesstaatlichen Finanzausgleichs in Verbindung mit den Solidarpakten I und II sowie die kommunalen Finanzausgleichssysteme als besonders leistungsfähige Mechanismen erwiesen, um ein hohes Maß an Gleichwertigkeit zu erreichen. Zugleich sind die ostdeutschen Länder bis an den aktuellen Rand und voraussichtlich auch künftig auf hohe Finanzausgleichsmittel angewiesen, um ihre öffentlichen Aufgaben angemessen erfüllen zu können. Darüber hinaus beleuchtet der Beitrag die Entwicklung der Ausgaben- und der Verschuldungsniveaus Ost- und Westdeutschlands. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass die deutsche Teilung weiterhin nicht vollständig überwunden ist. Abstract: Public Budgets in East and West Germany After 30 Years – Stocktaking and Success Analysis From A Perspective of Public Finance The 30th anniversary of German unification gives cause for a success analysis. This article examines various aspects of the alignment between East and West Germany from a perspective of public finance. The focus is on the development of state and municipal budgets. On the revenue side, the system of federal fiscal equalization in conjunction with the Solidarity Pacts I and II and the municipal fiscal equalization systems have proven to be particularly effective mechanisms for achieving a high degree of equivalence. At the same time, East Germany is, and will probably continue to be, dependent on high levels of fiscal equalisation in order to adequately fulfil their public tasks. In addition, the article examines the development of expenditure and debt levels in East and West Germany. Overall, it shows that the division of Germany is still not completely finished.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Post-Socialist Transition on Inequality of Educational Opportunity: Evidence from German Unification

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastian Andreas Betthäuser
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Educational Inequality ◽  
East Germany ◽  
West Germany ◽  
German Unification ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
East And West

In 1990, German unification led to an abrupt and extensive restructuring of the educational system and economy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) as the latter was reintegrated into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). However, the consequences of this large- scale institutional change for the educational inequality between children from different social class backgrounds in East Germany continue to be poorly understood. This article seeks to shed new light on this question by using a quasi-experimental approach to examine the difference in educational inequality between East and West Germany before and after German unification. We compare changes in the class gradient in educational attainment in East and West Germany across six birth cohorts, including three cohorts of individuals who completed their schooling after unification. Contrasting with past findings, our results show that before unification, educational inequality at the mid-secondary, upper-secondary and tertiary level was substantially lower in East Germany than in West Germany and that unification led to a substantial and sustained convergence of the level of educational inequality in East Germany towards that of West Germany.

From the GDR to Eastern Federal Lands of Germany: features of economic and political transformation (1989–2019)

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-101
Author(s):  
Larisa N. Shanshieva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Transformation ◽  
East Germany ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Political Transformation ◽  
Federal States ◽  
Federal Lands ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
History Of ◽  
East And West

This chapter discusses the main stages of social transformation in East Germany since 1989. The author explores the reasons for the peaceful revolution, the split of the political elite, the attempts to unite left-leaning parties, and movements around the idea of adopting a new constitution and rejecting the statehood of the GDR. The causes of the collapse of the GDR, the features of institutional changes in the eastern lands after 1990, and the protracted nature of the transformation are analyzed. The chapter also presents the data on the costs of economic recovery in the eastern federal states and the main socio-economic indicators of development in East and West Germany. Specific attention is paid to the mental differences between East and West Germans and the causes of nostalgic sentiments among the population of the Eastern lands. The question of the modern perception and study of the history of the GDR is also considered. Conclusions are drawn about the specific features of the model of social transformation in East Germany.

Fighting Fat

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Weinreb
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
East Germany ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Caloric Content ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
East And West Germany ◽  
East And West

This chapter looks at the obesity epidemic that emerged in East and West Germany during the 1970s and 1980s. It compares the ways in which socialist and capitalist nutritionists and economists diagnosed and attempted to treat the new problem of widespread overweight. Despite expressing different attitudes toward fatness, East Germany and West Germany attempted to solve the problem of obesity using similar strategies, including expanding food options for private purchases and modifying the caloric content of institutional meals, especially in canteens. However, in both states these projects failed to reverse the population’s steady weight gain. When it came to fatness, the two states were more similar than not, despite deeply held beliefs that their populations consumed quite different diets.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document