Socialism with a Human Face: Using Behavioural Economics to Understand East German Economic History

East Germanys economic history is often portrayed as a story of a flawed system, but this book combines behavioral economics with archival research to reveal a more functional perspective. It examines the establishment of socialist workplaces, productivity growth, and efficiency, and the emergence of financial crisis, offering a more realistic understanding of the system beyond political preconceptions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 356 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

East Germany's economic history is often portrayed as a tale of a system's inherent flaws leading to its downfall. However, while the system's inefficiency is undeniable, its economic history is far more complex than its relatively poor economic performance suggests. For many who lived under this system, it was a system that, over its forty-year span, achieved significant accomplishments and generally functioned at a tolerable level. This book combines the insights of behavioral economics with archival research to peel back layers of rhetoric and assumptions about the East German economy and explore aspects of its underlying functionality.

Through a series of case studies that examine the establishment of socialist workplaces, the pursuit of productivity growth and efficiency, and the emergence of financial crises, the book takes a human-centric perspective, considering the system from the perspective of the individuals who operated it and made the decisions that propelled it forward. Free from political preconceptions, it offers a more realistic understanding of East German economic history than the stagnant debates that revolve around the clash of systems. The new perspectives and approaches presented in this book demonstrate that East Germany's economic history can be analyzed for what it was, rather than solely for what it symbolized during the Cold War era.

East Germany's economic history is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of human beings in the face of challenging circumstances. It highlights the complexities and nuances of economic systems, and encourages us to approach economic analysis with a broader perspective that encompasses the human element. By studying the experiences of East Germany, we can gain valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different economic models and develop a more informed understanding of the factors that contribute to economic success and failure.

Weight: 495g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811906664
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022