Not necessarily. Strength of economy is a quantifiable number - how well the system meets the people’s needs is a little different. I’m not an economist, nor an East German. My point was more that what economy is better is maybe not so clear as we would believe. We often assume we know things we don’t. I have heard that the transition in east Germany to capitalism was very painful with lots of unemployment (particularly young people, and we know that is never a good thing), resentment, and social stresses. I haven’t heard about it lately, maybe it all got worked out. But even in the Former West, Germany is far more socialistic than we are.
There is a good indicator of which system met people's needs better. One system built walls and fences to keep people from leaving. The other welcomed those who escaped the former.
East and West Berlin was an easy example of the differences between the two Germanies. It shows how inequality causes conflict. But it also demonstrates that most people didn’t try to leave. Most on the east just wanted more political freedom. It’s a work of fiction, but at a tender age I watched the German movie “Der Mann Auf Der Mauer” about a Berliner who sneaks back and forth over the Berlin Wall torn by his connection to both sides. I just don’t know if it’s as cut and dry as you think. I could be wrong.
Not necessarily. Strength of economy is a quantifiable number - how well the system meets the people’s needs is a little different. I’m not an economist, nor an East German. My point was more that what economy is better is maybe not so clear as we would believe. We often assume we know things we don’t. I have heard that the transition in east Germany to capitalism was very painful with lots of unemployment (particularly young people, and we know that is never a good thing), resentment, and social stresses. I haven’t heard about it lately, maybe it all got worked out. But even in the Former West, Germany is far more socialistic than we are.
There is a good indicator of which system met people's needs better. One system built walls and fences to keep people from leaving. The other welcomed those who escaped the former.
East and West Berlin was an easy example of the differences between the two Germanies. It shows how inequality causes conflict. But it also demonstrates that most people didn’t try to leave. Most on the east just wanted more political freedom. It’s a work of fiction, but at a tender age I watched the German movie “Der Mann Auf Der Mauer” about a Berliner who sneaks back and forth over the Berlin Wall torn by his connection to both sides. I just don’t know if it’s as cut and dry as you think. I could be wrong.
Have you considered the possibility that walls meant to keep people inside East Germany were an example of the lack of political freedom?