1.4a Why were the economic problems of the GDR so severe by the late 1980s? Flashcards
What was the GDR’s debt to Western nations in the 1980s?
40 billion DM
What was the GDR’s GDP at in the 1980s?
250 billion DM
Which newspaper well represents the problem of growing national debt?
‘Schurer-Papier’ who projected the need to increase national exports by 500%
What did the GDR severely lack that hindered the economy?
Exports
How did the GDR’s desperation for money lead to added inefficiency?
They sold their oil to the Soviets which forced them to use lignite which was much more inefficient
Between 1986-88, exports of heavy industry fell by __%
30%
Who was the GDR’s economic crisis kept secret from?
Honnecker
Who did the restriction of economic information alarmingly include?
The GDR’s own economics minister
How were the FRG involved in the GDR’s debt crisis?
They had enough money to keep propping ther GDR up
How did Gorbachov worsen the GDR’s national debt?
Decided not to increase financial support for the GDR
GDR expenditure on subsidising housing, education, health and welfare:
1980 - ____ DM
1985 - ____ DM
GDR expenditure on subsidising housing, education, health and welfare:
1980 - 72.9 billion DM
1985 - 112.3 billion DM
How did good healthcare help to reduce opposition to the SED?
Provided public satisfaction and gratefulness
How did good healthcare help the GDR’s prestige?
Encouraged productivity and provided some international prestige
Why was there such a strain on the GDR’s healthcare system?
Ageing population
How did the industrial output of the GDR put strain on the healthcare system?
Pollutants caused respiratory issues
The GDR had the worst ____________ in Europe
Air Pollution
Why is the town of Bitterfield relevant?
It would’ve been declared unfit for human habitation according to UN air pollution laws
Honnecker demanded that __% of all factories’ output had to consist of consumer goods
5%
WHat did Honnecker’s demand for all factories to produce consumer goods result in?
Strange production like steel mills producing microwaves of very poor quality
What grew in 1985 for the first time in GDR history?
The private sector
The private sector only had __% of net national product
2.8%
What areas was the private sector particularly important in?
Car parts and modern technology
What was the culture in the GDR regarding getting your hands on goods?
swapping
What does the term ‘Buckware’ or ‘duck goods’ mean?
Illegal acts like bribing to receive goods
