Plans That Failed

André Steiner is Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF) and Professor of economic and social history at the University of Potsdam. He has been the Research Director of the Department of Economic and Social History at the ZZF, a Research Fellow at Institutes for Economic History in Berlin and Mannheim and was Professor at the Ruhr-University Bochum.

“…the economic history of the GDR is an important topic, not just in modern German history, but in the history of the world Communist movement. The publication of André Steiner’s book is therefore warmly to be welcomed, for it provides a competent and useful overview of the evolution of the East German economy from the Soviet occupation of 1945–9 through to the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989.”  ·  English Historical Review“So far there has been a dearth of studies on the economic history of the GDR, unlike the recent surge of general historical accounts. Based on an exceptional knowledge of the literature and well supported by a number of key, so far unpublished, documents, this book fills the gap. André Steiner fully succeeds in his attempt, managing to produce from highly complex material a very accessible text for a wide readership without sacrificing analytical quality.”  ·  H-Soz-u-Kult”…provide[s] an excellent introduction for students and researchers who are just starting their work in the area of East Germany’s history, or for the researchers of state-owned enterprises and planned economies, who are interested in an overview of the historical precedent. Furthermore, Steiner’s bibliography presents an impressive scholarly reference to a large subset of primary and secondary sources that are available on the topic.”  ·  EH-Net“This 13th volume in the "Studies in German History" series (published in association with the German Historical Institute, Washington, DC)  is the most comprehensive account of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) economy available in English…Detailed endnotes, extensive bibliography, brief biographical sketches, and very good index…Highly recommended.”  ·  Choice

• Introduction Chapter 1. A Difficult Start? Initial Conditions in the Soviet Occupation ZoneEconomic Potential and Structure at the End of the WarPlant Dismantling and ReparationsPolitical Forces in the Soviet Occupation Zone and their Ideas on Economic PolicyLand Reform and Nationalisation of IndustryRestarting ProductionChapter 2. The Establishment of the Planned Economy 1948–1952German Economic Commission and Currency ReformProblems of Economic ControlReorientation of Foreign Trade and Industrial DevelopmentAgriculture and Supplies for the PopulationThe Resolution to ‘Build Socialism’The Events of 17 June 1953Chapter 3. Between Shortages and Growth 1953–1963Industrial and Structural PolicyThe Private Sector and AgricultureProblems of the Steering MechanismGrowth, Structural Transformation and Standard of LivingThe ‘Main Economic Task’: ‘Catch Up and Overtake’Collectivisation and the Road into Crisis 1960/61Chapter 4. The ‘Golden’ Sixties? Economic Reform between Take-off and Crisis 1961–1971Störfreimachung and Produktionsaufgebot 1961/62A ‘New Economic System’?Implementation of the Reform‘Overtake without Catching Up’Economic Results and Living Standards in the Reform PeriodThe Growth Crisis of 1969/70 and its Political ConsequencesChapter 5. ‘Unity of Economic and Social Policy’ 1971–1982Honecker's ‘Main Task’Fewer Investments and Innovations?Concentration in Industry and AgricultureAnd More Consumption?Debt CrisisChapter 6. Continued Economic Decline 1982–1989Getting out of Debt?Dispensing with Reforms in the Steering of the EconomyGrowing Loss of AssetsMore Money, Fewer GoodsFinal CrisisBrief BiographiesIndex