What is the Difference Between East and West Germany?

The differences between East and West Germany can be attributed to their distinct historical, political, and economic backgrounds. Key differences include:

1. Political System: West Germany was a prosperous democratic state, while East Germany was an authoritarian communist state with a stagnant economy.
2. Economy: West Germany had a stronger economy, while East Germany struggled economically. After reunification, "solidarity" transfers of wealth from West to East helped raise salaries and per capita GDP in the former East to around 80% of the West. However, the productivity and income gaps persist, with people in the former East earning only 86% of the after-tax income of their West German counterparts.
3. Population and Migration: The area occupied by former East Germany has a smaller population than the former West, with about 16 million people compared to 67 million in the West. Skilled workers tend to leave the former East for better job opportunities in the West, leading to a vicious cycle of brain drain and economic stagnation.
4. Attitudes and Sentiments: People in former West Germany are generally more satisfied with the way things are going in Germany and have more positive views about democracy compared to those in the former East. Additionally, those in the former East are more likely to hold negative views towards certain minority groups.
5. Political Affiliations: Those in the former East are more likely to have a favorable view of certain political parties, such as the Left party, which is a successor to the Communist Party in the former German Democratic Republic. Voting for far-right parties is also more prevalent in Eastern Germany.

Despite efforts to close the gaps between East and West Germany, the differences in economic conditions, attitudes, and political affiliations persist.

Comparative Table: East vs West Germany

The division between East and West Germany was a result of the end of World War II, with East Germany under the Soviet Union's control and West Germany under the control of the Western Allies. There are several differences between the two regions, which can be summarized in the following table:

While some differences in economic values and attitudes have been observed between East and West Germans, they do not seem to be the main driving force behind the persistent economic disparities between the two regions. The idea of a "wall in the head" refers to the persistent differences in values held by Easterners and Westerners, but it does not fully explain the economic divergence.