Numerous individuals from East Germany express disappointment with the economic progress in their area.
Despite advancements in economic catch-up and favorable labor market trends, a substantial number of East Germans remain unhappy with their country's economic progress. As per a survey from the business-focused Institute for the German Economy (IW Cologne), a staggering 21% view their city or district as dependent.
This survey, based on polls of around 5,500 individuals, was released to Reuters on Friday. In contrast, only 10% in the western region hold similar views. On the flip side, merely 9% of East Germans perceive their city or district as a boom area, while the west boasts 20%. In both regions, about half believe their local area to be stagnant, and around one-fifth view it as thriving.
Despite the notable decrease in unemployment, fewer than one-third of East Germans express satisfaction with the evolution of their local labor market over the past decade. In fact, a third express dissatisfaction. According to IW analyst Matthias Diermeier, speaking to Reuters, demographic factors play a significant role here. "Both aging populations and the exodus of residents could overshadow any positive developments," Diermeier stated. With the exception of a few cities like Leipzig, Dresden, and the greater Berlin area, the east is grappling with a significant population decline. Between 2012 and 2022, the eastern districts lost an average of 2.2% of their population, whereas the western districts experienced a 4.5% population increase.
The survey reveals a significant disparity in perception between East and West Germans, with only 10% in the western region sharing the view that their city or district is dependent, compared to 21% in the eastern region. This disparity in outlook can be partly attributed to the demographic challenges facing the eastern region, as mentioned by IW analyst Matthies Diermeier. In his comments to Reuters, he highlighted the impact of aging populations and population decline in many eastern 'Regions'.
