Topic 3 - Social Welfare
Housing
Social Contract - if the people show outward conformity, they can get good welfare
the state aimed to improve housing after WW2 as 14% of housing had been destroyed
Success
between 1971-75 400,000 new homes built
during the 50s, 30% of homes had a toilet
by 1980, all targets exceeded
provided housing quickly using prefabricated housing
Failure
called them 'stone deserts' or 'lockers'
quantity > quality
top officials had better housing, social inequality
crime rates usually higher on these estates
disregard for the elderly
Education
after WW2, 80% of teachers dismissed for having ties with Nazism
new teachers received 2 weeks training
1946, 'gymnasiums' abolished - grammar schools - to decrease inequality
Success
by the mid 1950s, half of uni students from working class homes
work experience required to provide routes into apprenticeship
helped to decrease inequality and diversify the workforce
Healthcare
success
birth rate increased to 13.7% in 1985 compared to 9.6% in FRG
contraception free
abortion legalized in 1971
polyclinics in every district focusing on preventative medicine
failure
shortages of healthcare equipment
Women
In 1976 the Institute of Public Opinion Research reported that 75% of 4777 respondents felt social security was better in the GDR than FRG.