Finance & economics | Nature v nurture

Why east and west German women still work vastly different hours

Thirty years after reunification, eastern women are still more likely to work full-time

SCHOLARS ARE often greatly excited by “natural experiments”, events that end up separating two groups of people, allowing wonks to compare their subsequent behaviour. Much like the study of twins adopted into different households, the postwar division and eventual reunification of Germany could be seen as such an experiment. A report by the German Institute for Economic Research on working mothers, published ahead of the 30th anniversary of reunification on October 3rd, reveals the interplay between policy and attitudes that influences the decision to work.

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Nature v nurture”

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