Population shifts and local democratic representation in Eastern Germany |
| |
Authors: | Tassilo Herrschel |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Social Studies, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London, W1R 8AL, U.K. |
| |
Abstract: | The shift to market forces in East Germany has fundamentally reconfigured its social and economic geography. In particular,
spatial inequalities between localities and regions have re-emerged forcefully in response to new values, expectations and
preferences. Increased mobility through private transport, changing job opportunities, educational choices and desire for
new housing qualities have inter alia created new parameters for the population's lives. The responses i.a. in the form of migration have altered demographic structures
and spatial patterns of the population considerably, often varying significantly over relatively short distances within and
between regions. After initial population losses generally through outmigration from East to West Germany, population losses
in cities occurred in favour of suburban areas, and rural depopulation in favour of the cities; creating a highly differentiated
basis for future development through new urban-rural contrasts and differences between urban regions. This paper will outline
some of these processes and demonstrate their effects on the already-considerable inequalities inherited from communism. Attention
will also be given to the effects of changing population structures and patterns on local government and the future prospects
for an indigenously supported, sustainable economic development for regions and the likely pathways of transformation and
adjustment.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | East Germany population post-socialism migration spatial inequalities suburbanisation rural-urban shift |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|