By Matija Šerić
Industrial productivity in the east stood at 70% of the west’s level in 1990 and has increased to around 75–80% today. This is partly due to the fact that some eastern factories were bought by western businessmen, who deliberately reduced their efficiency in order to eliminate competition. Not a single one of the 30 companies listed on the stock market comes from the east. Most heavy industry and production bases are located in the west, while those in the east are significantly smaller in both output and workforce. When it comes to highways and other infrastructure, the east today shines at a European level, but not to the same extent as the west. There is still plenty of room for improvement.
A More Economical and Environmentally Advanced East
The socialist lifestyle gave East Germans certain advantages for life in modern capitalism. A good example is waste generation. East Germans produce significantly less waste than westerners because the constant food shortages before 1989 taught them to be economical and to buy only what they truly need. This mindset persists to this day. Preferences for certain regional products such as beer, chocolate, juices, yogurt, and newspapers often indicate a person’s origin.
Although consumption habits are similar, eastern residents spend 79% less money on consumer goods. East Germans eat more canned food, while westerners consume more fish and fried food. West Germans spend more on jewelry and watches and are more likely to own dishwashers, whereas East Germans are more likely to invest in their gardens, which are a source of pride.
Better Childcare and Higher-Quality Education in the East
Communist East Germany (GDR) emphasized childcare. While mothers in the GDR returned to work soon after childbirth, in West Germany wives generally did not work and instead stayed home to raise children, supported by their husbands. As a result, the GDR developed excellent childcare institutions (nurseries, kindergartens, schools), whose legacy remains today. The east has retained an advantage over the west in early childhood education.
More women are employed in the east (75%) than in the west (70%). Eastern German states outperform western ones in education, with the exception of Bavaria. Their pupils and students excel in mathematics, natural sciences, biology, chemistry, and physics. This is partly due to the legacy of the GDR, significant investment in education after 1990, and the lower presence of foreign students.
Intriguing Social Differences
Agricultural land plots are larger in the east than in the west, another legacy of socialism. Vaccination rates against influenza are also higher in the east. When traveling, West Germans tend to sleep in camper vans, while East Germans prefer tents—a habit from a time when easterners could not afford cars or other means of transport.
Civil society organizations are less developed in the east, while volunteerism is stronger in the west. Three-quarters of East Germans do not belong to religious communities, whereas the opposite is true in the west. According to research, easterners are less satisfied than westerners—a classic legacy of socialism. Disparities are also visible in football and other sports, with most German national team players coming from the west.
Wossis
While romantic relationships between westerners and easterners were once rare, they now account for about 10% of all relationships—similar to the share of relationships between Germans and immigrants. The most common pairing is a western man and an eastern woman, and according to experts, this is because women tend to consider status and wealth when choosing a partner. Relationships between easterners (Ossis) and westerners (Wessis) are called “Wossis.”
The Merging of Two Halves of One Nation
The differences between eastern and western Germany remain significant. Indeed, history offers few examples of such different states merging into one. Thirty-five years of living together in a unified Germany have helped the east move toward development and progress comparable to the west (the GDR itself was relatively developed by general standards). However, convergence has not reached the expected level because 45 years under a completely different political and social system left a deep mark.
It is now evident that the GDR regime was not entirely alien to its people, as it left a lasting imprint on the thoughts, attitudes, and behavior of residents in eastern German states. Skepticism toward foreigners, social reserve, irreligiosity, a stronger education system, and greater female emancipation are among the characteristics that persist in the east.
Differences as an Advantage in the Modern World
Wessis and Ossis view both small and large aspects of life differently. However, these differences should not be overstated, as the divide between eastern and western Germany is not greater than regional divisions in countries like Belgium, Italy, or Spain. Reunification brought significant progress to Germany as a whole, opening the door to its dominance within the European Union.
Germany does not face the threat of disintegration along regional lines; over time, the differences between east and west will continue to diminish, even if they never fully disappear. In fact, these differences should not be seen as a disadvantage. They can enhance a system by fostering competition and rivalry, ultimately benefiting the country as a whole—in this case, Germany.
