The 40 years of socialist regime in East Germany were characterized by a massive anti-entrepreneurship policy. We investigate the reemergence of entrepreneurship in East Germany during its transformation to a market economy following the collapse of the East German state in 1989. It took about...

Die ostdeutsche Wirtschaft hat fast 25 Jahre nach der Wiedervereinigung noch nicht zur westdeutschen Wirtschaft aufgeschlossen. Im Vergleich zu Westdeutschland erreichte die Wirtschaftsleistung der ostdeutschen Bundesländer pro Kopf im Jahr 2013 nur etwas mehr als 70 Prozent. Auch kurz- oder...

We investigate the reasons for the pronounced regional differences of new business formation after the transformation from a socialist planned system to a market economy in East Germany. Relatively high start-up rates are found in regions that had a well-qualified workforce and a relatively high...

We investigate how initial conditions that existed in East Germany at the end of the socialist regime impact regional development during the turbulent shock transition to a market economic system. Our investigation spans a period of almost 30 years. Both the self-employment rate (an indication...

This paper summarizes the role of entrepreneurship in the East German transformation process that followed the breakdown of the socialist regime and subsequent unification with West Germany. The main aim of this exercise is to derive conclusions and recommendations for a potential unification of...