In East Germany, the productivity is almost 30 years after reunification, is still significantly lower than in the West. The findings of a study conducted by the Leibniz-Institute for economic research Halle (IWH). Therefore, no state reached in the East, the productivity of the weakest West German Federal state of Saarland.

according to The study, East German establishments have at least 20 percent lower productivity. One reason for this is that there is a lack there of large companies to invest in research and development, write the researchers from the IWH. 464 of the 500 largest German companies are located, therefore, as in the West.

Particularly large productivity differences between the cities are according to the study. The reason is that the corporate headquarters of large companies are often located in West German cities. In the West, three-quarters of the employees work in cities, in the East only half of the workers are inside and workers.

in Order to promote the productivity in the East, would have to be strengthened, especially in the cities, claim the researchers. In a service economy such as Germany, the cities would be the crucial locations. State subsidies have led so far, but not necessarily to higher productivity, because support is often linked to the preservation of jobs. This condition would increase productivity, often in the way.

scientists demand better living and working conditions

the wage differences are Similar to differences in Productivity according to the study. The mean income in East Germany, with 81 percent of the national average. In the town of Görlitz Employees receive only 68 percent of the salary of the workers, on average, in Germany, deserve.

In East Germany also lacked increasingly professionals. In the nineties, the East had according to IWH a higher share of high-skilled workers. This, however, is gone in all of the areas lost. In addition, the school dropout rate was higher than in the West, and the number of persons in the working age take significantly faster. A further disadvantage is that high-skilled foreign workers were more likely to be in West German regions.

The researchers, therefore, demand that the state provides for better conditions. More attractive living and working conditions, as well as a wide range of cultural and educational opportunities could bring structural change in Eastern Germany.