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Equality of Opportunity: East vs. West Germany

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  • Andreas Peichl
  • Martin Ungerer

Abstract

The case of German reunification has been subject to extensive research on earnings inequality and labor market integration. however, little is known about the development of equality of opportunity (EOp) in East and West Germany after 1990.Using German micro data, we empirically analyze how circumstances beyond the sphere of individual control explain inequality in East and West Germany. Our results suggest that equal opportunities in Germany have grown since reunification. Interestingly, EOp is larger in East than in West Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Peichl & Martin Ungerer, 2015. "Equality of Opportunity: East vs. West Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 798, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp798
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    1. Aaberge, Rolf & Mogstad, Magne & Peragine, Vito, 2011. "Measuring long-term inequality of opportunity," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(3), pages 193-204.
    2. Judith Niehues & Andreas Peichl, 2014. "Upper bounds of inequality of opportunity: theory and evidence for Germany and the US," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 43(1), pages 73-99, June.
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    6. John E. Roemer & Alain Trannoy, 2013. "Equality of Opportunity," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 1921, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
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    8. Marc Fleurbaey, 2012. "Three Solutions for the Compensation Problem," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Equality of Opportunity The Economics of Responsibility, chapter 2, pages 33-51, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    Cited by:

    1. Paolo Brunori & Guido Neidhöfer, 2021. "The Evolution of Inequality of Opportunity in Germany: A Machine Learning Approach," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(4), pages 900-927, December.
    2. Andreas Peichl & Martin Ungerer & Richard Hauser & Stefan Sell & Judith Niehues & Christoph Schröder & Dorothee Spannagel & Anita Tiefensee & Helmut Dedy & Gerhard Bosch & Thorsten Kalina, 2017. "Mythos oder Realität: Werden die Armen immer ärmer und die Reichen immer reicher?," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 70(10), pages 03-26, May.
    3. Paqué Karl-Heinz, 2016. "Der Wandel des Wachstums: Anmerkungen zur Dynamik von Wohlstand, Technologie und Verteilung aus Anlass von Robert J. Gordons Buch „The Rise and Fall of American Growth“," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 17(3), pages 289-308, September.
    4. Maqsood Aslam & Etienne Farvaque & Muhammad Azmat Hayat, 2022. "One partition, many divisions? Ethnicities and education in Pakistan," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 16(2), pages 405-428, May.
    5. Ibragimova, Zulfiya & Frants, Marina, 2021. "Measuring income opportunity inequality: A structural review and meta-analysis," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 61, pages 89-109.
    6. Alberto Alesina & Stefanie Stantcheva & Edoardo Teso, 2018. "Intergenerational Mobility and Preferences for Redistribution," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(2), pages 521-554, February.
    7. Leonardo Gasparini & Irene Brambilla & Andrés César & Guillermo Falcone & Carlo Lombardo, 2020. "The Risk of Automation in Argentina," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0260, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

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    Keywords

    Equality of opportunity; earnings inequality; Germany; family background;
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