Replication Data for: The Separation and Reunification of Germany: Rethinking a Natural Experiment Interpretation of the Enduring Effects of Communism
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Sascha O. Becker, Monash University; Lukas Mergele, ifo Institute; Ludger Wößmann, ifo Institute
Version: View help for Version V1
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01_Stata | 02/28/2020 05:04:PM | ||
02_ArcGIS | 02/28/2020 05:06:PM | ||
Readme.pdf | application/pdf | 153.1 KB | 04/02/2020 03:43:AM |
Project Citation:
Becker, Sascha O., Mergele, Lukas, and Wößmann, Ludger. Replication Data for: The Separation and Reunification of Germany: Rethinking a Natural Experiment Interpretation of the Enduring Effects of Communism. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2020. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2020-05-04. https://doi.org/10.3886/E117882V1
Project Description
Summary:
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German separation in 1949 into a communist East and a
capitalist West and their reunification in 1990 are commonly described as a
natural experiment to study the enduring effects of communism. We show in three
steps that the populations in East and West Germany were far from being
randomly selected treatment and control groups. First, using pre-World War II data,
the later border is already visible in many socio-economic characteristics.
Second, World War II and the subsequent occupying forces affected East and West
differently. Third, a selective fifth of the population fled from East to West
Germany before the building of the Wall in 1961. In light of our findings, we
propose a more cautious interpretation of the extensive literature on the enduring
effects of communist systems on economic outcomes, political preferences,
cultural traits, and gender roles.
Scope of Project
Subject Terms:
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political systems;
communism;
preferences;
culture;
Germany
JEL Classification:
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D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
H11 Structure, Scope, and Performance of Government
N44 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Europe: 1913-
P26 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Political Economy; Property Rights
P36 Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions: Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training: Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
H11 Structure, Scope, and Performance of Government
N44 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Europe: 1913-
P26 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Political Economy; Property Rights
P36 Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions: Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training: Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
Geographic Coverage:
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Germany
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