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The Economic Consequences of German Unification: The Impact of Misguided Macroeconomic Policies?

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  • Jorg Bibow

Abstract

Although the costs associated with moving an antiquated socialist economy toward its capitalist counterpart was anticipated to be significant, German industrial efficiency was expected to quickly overcome any challenges. Things turned out rather differently. Conventional wisdom blamed poor economic performance on unification. The government and the Bundesbank therefore put in place fiscal and monetary policies aimed at reducing borrowing and, in turn, containing the threat of inflation. The positive results (albeit in five years) supported this perception. The author of this brief, however, takes exception to the notion that these policies were effective in stabilizing the economy. His analysis shows that the country's poor economic performance dramatically dampened economic activity and led to an extended period of sluggish growth. Blame for anemic growth and high unemployment, he believes, should be placed squarely on the country's finance department and central bank rather than on unification.

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  • Jorg Bibow, "undated". "The Economic Consequences of German Unification: The Impact of Misguided Macroeconomic Policies?," Economics Public Policy Brief Archive ppb_67, Levy Economics Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:lev:levppb:ppb_67
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. von Hagen, Jurgen, 1992. "German unification: Economic problems and consequences : A comment," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 211-221, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jorg Bibow, 2004. "Fiscal Consolidation: Contrasting Strategies & Lessons From International Experiences," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_400, Levy Economics Institute.
    2. Jorg Bibow, 2004. "Assessing the ECB's Performance since the Global Slowdown: A Structural Policy Bias Coming Home to Roost?," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_409, Levy Economics Institute.
    3. Jörg Bibow, 2004. "Für eine Kehrtwende von der Spar- zur Wachstumsorientierung: nominales BIP-Ziel als Strategie der Makrowirtschaftspolitik in der Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 73(3), pages 445-459.
    4. Jorg Bibow, "undated". "Pushing Germany Off the Cliff Edge," Economics Policy Note Archive 03-4, Levy Economics Institute.

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