Ungleichheiten der Lebensverhältnisse zwischen Stadt und Land

The quality of life does not end at the front door. Living quality is also connected to the regional living conditions. For this reason, the article examines the different living conditions in cities and the countryside as well as in west and east Germany. In addition, the authors ask how the living conditions differ in regions where outward migration is prevalent from those with population gains, because demographic development is still the cause, and one of the most important drivers, of the spatial differentiation of living conditions. First, the components of the demographic trends – external and internal migration, natural population change – are analysed in more detail against the backdrop of west and east Germany, urban and rural areas as well as the demographic types, which are created specifically for this purpose. Then the following aspects are considered in regard to spatial differences: the age and social structure of the population, labour markets and the development of jobs and the situation of housing and services of general interest. The federal governments of the 19th and 20th legislative periods emphasise the importance of equal living conditions and aim to reduce politically unacceptable inequalities. This task requires the coordination between sector-specific policies, between federal and state policies and has also to involve commercial enterprises.