The evolution of German's values since reunification

Arbeitspapier

Exploiting the natural experiment of German reunification, we study whether having experienced socialism has an enduring effect on people's basic values. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we show that individuals that lived in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) assign different importance to six out of nine life goals. Our evidence suggests two reactions, adaption to policies/conditions in the GDR as well as switching to the opposite values. The strength of the reactions varies with East Germans' appreciation of reunification. Intergenerational transmission seems to contribute to the preservation of socialist in influence across generations; it does not differ between East and West Germany. We show that self-reported values are behaviorally relevant. Differences in values provide a possible explanation for persistent differences in behavior.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Freiburger Diskussionspapiere zur Ordnungsökonomik ; No. 13/13

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis ; Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Political Economy; Property Rights ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
• Subject: endogenous preferences ; socialism ; intergenerational transmission

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Necker, Sarah ; Voskort, Andrea
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Allgemeine Wirtschaftsforschung, Abteilung für Wirtschaftspolitik
• (where): Freiburg i. Br.
• (when): 2013

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/89795
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET