Political Experience in Economic and Social Transformation

Abstract This article outlines the political events related to German unification on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. The revolutionary upheaval of 1989-90 led to the formulation of common economic and social models in the former Eastern bloc countries. The implementation of these transformatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Christoph Bergner
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Sciendo 2021-04-01
Series:Wirtschaftsdienst
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-021-2831-7
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Summary:Abstract This article outlines the political events related to German unification on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. The revolutionary upheaval of 1989-90 led to the formulation of common economic and social models in the former Eastern bloc countries. The implementation of these transformation goals proved difficult in former socialist countries and met with little success. It became apparent that the political challenges of transforming centrally planned socialist economies into market economies governed by the rule of law were largely underestimated by politicians. In East Germany, the Treuhandanstalt (privatisation agency) made an indispensable, albeit highly conflictual, contribution to solving this problem. The economic and social transformation of East Germany took place with its accession to the German Constitution. The fall of the “Iron Curtain” gave the process of globalisation a considerable acceleration, which in turn made strengthening competitiveness a growing challenge for German politics.
ISSN:0043-6275
1613-978X