Following German reunification in 1990, East Germany's centrally planned economy was abolished and replaced by West Germany's social market economy. Western Germany has since provided vast financial support to aid the transformation, and enable eastern Germany to catch-up with western Germany's productivity and living standards. This book evaluates the main events and their outcomes since mid-1990 and the associated policy issues. The authors assess the medium to long term growth prospects of eastern Germany and the wider implications for western Germany and Europe.

The Economics of German Unification analyses the economic process of assimilating eastern Germany into the institutions and performance levels of western Germany. It includes original research as well as providing an overview of existing literature. Among the topics discussed are:

• the relative backwardness of East Germany's economy
• the impact of monetary and economic integration
• restructuring and privatization
• <>li>labour market and industrial policy, including an analysis of wage restraint and cost reduction
• the prospects for eastern Germany catching-up economically with western Germany
• the repercussions for German competitiveness nationally and within the wider European context

This book will be welcomed by academics, researchers and undergraduates interested in the economics of transition, comparative economic systems, political economy and the European business environment.

About the Author
Thomas Lange, Australian Catholic University, Australia and Geoffrey Pugh, Principal Lecturer in European Economics, Staffordshire University Business School, UK and Visiting Professor at the Warsaw University, Poland and Tirana University, Albania

Reviews
'A model of clarity and organization, this relatively short book is marvellously handy for any researcher, student or practitioner engaged in international trade or policy making because issues are laid out clearly and answers presented persuasively with a sufficiently full explanation of sources and argument. A concise summary of the individual chapters' contents and main arguments at the start, and a twelve-point conclusion (with a few subpoints) at the end, plus a well laid-out index, make it easy and convenient to find information quickly.'



Book Information
ISBN 9781858980904
Author Thomas Lange
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd