Nearly 30 years after the breakdown of socialism and system break, East Germany experienced the emergence of a technologically modernized economy and infrastructure as well as a strong scientific landscape. However, the economic catching-up process to West Germany is not fulfilled, and persistent structural weaknesses remain. The characteristics of these structural differences have been analysed intensively. Less attention has been paid to the strategies and the role of decision makers during the transition: In how far do the reform strategies of the early 1990s through long term path dependencies impact the economic development in East Germany until today? This and further questions will be analysed in an interdisciplinary research project funded through the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Comparative research to the situation in Central Eastern Europe will also play an important role in the project.

We are looking for a PhD candidate highly motivated to work on this topic.

Job announcement (only in German)