Three and a half decades after German reunification, the economic chasm between the former East and West remains a defining feature of the nation. According to Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, East Germans continue to earn lower wages, receive smaller pensions, and possess less wealth than their western counterparts. Kaiser, who was born in Thuringia in 1987 during the era of the socialist German Democratic Republic, argues that decades of restricted private entrepreneurship and limited investment opportunities in the East have prevented families from accumulating and passing down wealth, thereby hindering social mobility.
Early findings from Kaiser’s annual Deutschland-Monitor survey suggest that this perception is widespread. Approximately two-thirds of respondents across Germany believe that financial and social advancement is heavily dependent on one’s wealth, personal connections, and social background. Despite a rise in the percentage of East Germans holding executive positions in federal agencies—from 13.9% in 2022 to 16.3% currently—Kaiser noted that representation drops significantly as one ascends the corporate ladder.
Kaiser advocates for greater equality in decision-making roles, urging that East Germans be included in ministries, government agencies, businesses, academia, the judiciary, and media. Data from the Elitenmonitor study, conducted by universities in Jena, Leipzig, and Zittau/Görlitz, supports her concerns. The study examined over 3,000 top positions across twelve sectors from 2018 to 2024 and found that the share of East Germans in leadership roles increased only marginally from 10.9% to 12.1%. In the business and cultural sectors, representation has actually declined. Notably, no executives from East Germany hold top positions among the 100 largest German companies or in the military.
The Commissioner emphasized that East Germans remain significantly underrepresented, comprising just under 20% of the population. She argues that this lack of perspective in key societal areas influences stereotypes and drives a political redefinition of East German identity. Kaiser explained that her generation often did not identify as East German until encountering disparities during their education and vocational training. Consequently, some seek common bonds through cultural symbols.
Kaiser pointed to the Simson moped, a symbol of mobility from the GDR era, as an example of such appropriation. Leaders of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party partly classified as a far-right extremist organization by domestic intelligence, have frequently used the moped in public appearances. Ulrich Siegmund, an AfD candidate who recently won state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, is among those leveraging this imagery. Kaiser criticized the exploitation of these cultural icons for political gain, noting the strong emotional connection they evoke.
Expressing concern over recent electoral successes for the AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, Kaiser warned that such developments could deter international investors and skilled workers. She highlighted sectors vital to eastern Germany’s growth, including semiconductors, battery cell research, healthcare, biotechnology, and renewable energy, as potentially suffering from a damaged reputation. This article was originally published in German.
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