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25 Jahre nach dem Mauerfall: Ostlöhne holen nur schleppend auf

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  • Gerhard Bosch
  • Thorsten Kalina
  • Claudia Weinkopf

Abstract

Based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel the paper explores the development of hourly wages of employees (including part-time and mini-jobs) in East and West Germany between 1992 and 2012. The analysis includes median hourly wages as well as the development of wages in the upper and lower quintile of the distribution and further differentiations by gender, working-time arrangements and sectors. After a quick adjustment of the East German wages to the West German level in the first years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the approximation came to a standstill already since the mid 1990´s. In 2012, the median hourly wage in East Germany was at 76.8% of the West German level. The equalization of the wages was not only driven by the catching up of East Germany but also by the decrease of wages for the low-paid in West Germany. The increase of East German wages was inhibited by the decline of full-time employment and the weak development of wages in the production sector. Der Beitrag untersucht auf Basis des SOEP die Entwicklung der Stundenlöhne von abhängig Beschäftigten (einschließlich Teilzeit- und geringfügig Beschäftigten) in Ost- und Westdeutschland zwischen 1992 und 2012. Die Analyse bezieht sich nicht nur auf die mittleren Löhne (Median), sondern auch auf die Entwicklung der Löhne im oberen und unteren Quintil der Stundenlohnverteilung sowie differenziert nach Geschlecht, Arbeitszeitform und Wirtschaftssektoren. Nach einer schnellen Angleichung der Ostlöhne an das Westniveau in den ersten Jahren nach dem Mauerfall kam der Aufholprozess schon Mitte der 1990er Jahre ins Stocken. Im Jahr 2012 lag der mittlere Stundenlohn in Ostdeutschland bei 76,8% des westdeutschen Niveaus. Die Angleichung der Löhne erfolge nicht alleine durch einen Aufholprozess des Ostens, sondern auch durch den Lohnverfall für Geringverdienende im Westen. Die Steigerung der ostdeutschen Löhne wurde durch den Rückgang von Vollzeitbeschäftigung sowie eine schlechte Lohnentwicklung im produzierenden Gewerbe gebremst.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerhard Bosch & Thorsten Kalina & Claudia Weinkopf, 2014. "25 Jahre nach dem Mauerfall: Ostlöhne holen nur schleppend auf," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 711, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp711
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    File URL: https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.492374.de/diw_sp0711.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gert G. Wagner & Joachim R. Frick & Jürgen Schupp, 2007. "The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, Evolution and Enhancements," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 127(1), pages 139-169.
    2. Karl Brenke, 2014. "Ostdeutschland: ein langer Weg des wirtschaftlichen Aufholens," DIW Wochenbericht, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 81(40), pages 939-957.
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    1. Boris Heizmann & Anne Busch-Heizmann & Elke Holst, 2017. "Immigrant Occupational Composition and the Earnings of Immigrants and Natives in Germany: Sorting or Devaluation?," International Migration Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 475-505, June.

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