Despite continuing although lessening differences in living standards between the old and new Länder , in the mid-1990s German social structure consists mainly of a large, prosperous central stratum containing about 60 percent of the population. This stratum includes mid-level civil servants, most salaried employees, skilled blue-collar workers, and a shrinking pool of farmers. A smaller wealthier group consisting of an upper-middle class and an upper class offsets the poverty experienced by a poor lower class. Hence in terms of social indicators such as education, average income, and property ownership, Germany ranks among the world's leading countries. In terms of income, for example, in 1991 the average German family had a net monthly income of DM4,905, second highest among members of the EC.
Social Structure
Most of the workforce is employed in the services sector. West Germany completed the transition from an industrial economy to one dominated by the services sector in the 1970s, and by the late 1980s this sector employed two-thirds of the workforce. In contrast, when the Berlin Wall fell, East Germany still had not made this transition. Because more of the workforce was engaged in industry and agriculture than in the services sector, its socioeconomic structure resembled that of West Germany in 1965.
Rainer Geissler, a German sociologist, has examined his country's social structure in light of the economic changes that have taken place in the postwar era. Because of the growth of the services sector and the doubling of state employees since 1950, he has discarded earlier divisions of German society into an elite class, middle class, and worker class, with a small services class consisting of employees of all levels. He has replaced this division with a more nuanced model that better reflects these postwar changes. As the economy of the new Länder is incorporated into the western economy, its much simpler social structure (elite, self-employed, salaried employees, and workers) will come to resemble that of the old Länder .
According to Geissler, at the end of the 1980s West Germany's largest group (28 percent of the population) was an educated salaried middle class, employed either in the services sector or in the manufacturing sector as educated, white-collar employees. Some members of this group earned very high salaries; others earned skilled blue-collar wages. This professional class has expanded at the expense of the old middle class, which amounted to only 7 percent of the population at the end of the 1980s. A less educated segment of the services sector, or white-collar employee sector, amounted to 9 percent of the population. Geissler divided the working class into three groups: an elite of the best-trained and best-paid workers (12 percent); skilled workers (18 percent), about 5 percent of whom are foreigners; and unskilled workers (15 percent), about 25 percent of whom are foreigners. A portion of this last group live below the poverty line. Farmers and their families make up 6 percent of the population. At the top of his model of the social structure, Geissler posits an elite of less than 1 percent.
Data as of August 1995
NOTE: The information regarding Germany on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Germany Social Structure information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Germany Social Structure should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.
FAQs
What are the social structures in Germany? ›
this basis, four classes are analysed that characterize the current German society: the exalted, the established, the fighters, and the marginalized. Table 1 illustrates this class division: At the 'social top' there is the class of the exalted.
What is the economy structure of Germany? ›Germany has a mixed economy. It allows a free market economy in consumer goods and business services. But the government imposes regulations even in those areas to protect its citizens. Germany has a command economy in defense since everyone receives the benefit, while those with higher incomes pay more in taxes.
What are the social factors of Germany? ›The German society focuses on structure, privacy, punctuality, hard work, diligence, and perfectionism in all aspects of lives. No wonder why it is one of the largest economies in the world. It is also one of the world's best in many sports e.g. football, hockey, ice-hockey, golf, tennis, and skiing.
What are major problems in Germany? ›- Discrimination and Intolerance.
- International Justice.
- Business and Human Rights.
- Migrants and Asylum Seekers.
- Surveillance and Freedom of Media.
- Women's Rights.
- Climate Change Policy and Impacts.
- Foreign Policy.
The major components of social structure are statuses, roles, social networks, groups and organizations, social institutions, and society. Specific types of statuses include the ascribed status, achieved status, and master status.
What are the 4 components of social structure? ›The major components of social structure include culture, social class, social status, roles, groups, and social institutions.
What are the 4 economic structures? ›Each economy functions based on a unique set of conditions and assumptions. Economic systems can be categorized into four main types: traditional economies, command economies, mixed economies, and market economies.
Is Germany economically stable? ›Shrinking economy expected for 2023
The Bundesbank expects an economic slump in Germany next year. After 1.8% growth in the current year, experts at the Bundesbank expect Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) to decline by 0.5% in 2023.
Germany's economy is expected to slide into a recession in 2023 due to its high exposure to the current energy crisis, according to GlobalData.
What type of personality do Germans have? ›Germans are stoic people who strive for perfectionism and precision in all aspects of their lives. They do not admit faults, even jokingly, and rarely hand out compliments. At first their attitude may seem unfriendly, but there is a keen sense of community and social conscience and a desire to belong.
What are the 5 social factors? ›
- Economic Stability.
- Education Access and Quality.
- Health Care Access and Quality.
- Neighborhood and Built Environment.
- Social and Community Context.
The German economy is in a downward spiral. The recent price jumps for electricity and gas will reduce the purchasing power of private households and lead to a decline in private consumer spending.
What is the economy problem in Germany? ›The German economy, the largest in Europe, has a big industrial sector that's under huge pressure. Factory inflation just hit its highest since records began in 1949 as electricity costs soared 600%. Germany's addiction to Russian energy is helping to push it towards recession.
Is Germany's economy growing or struggling? ›The Federal Statistics Office said this month that the economy probably stagnated in the final quarter of 2022, defying analyst expectations for a contraction. For the year as a whole, GDP increased by 1.9% — down from 2.6% in 2021 and just ahead of the 1.8% estimate in a Bloomberg survey.
What are the 8 different forms of society? ›The major types of societies historically have been hunting-and-gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial. As societies developed and grew larger, they became more unequal in terms of gender and wealth and also more competitive and even warlike with other societies.
What are the 7 primary social institutions? ›This unit analyzes such major social institutions as the family, education, religion, the economy and work, government, and health care.
What are the 9 social institutions? ›...
Government Institutions
- authoritarianism.
- bureaucracy.
- Congress.
- democracy.
- lobbyists (interest groups)
- political parties.
- monarchy.
- totalitarianism.
Sociologists generally posit three classes: upper, working (or lower), and middle.
What are different social structures? ›Examples of social structure include family, religion, law, economy, and class.
What are the 5 components of social studies explain each briefly? ›The key components of social studies content knowledge include history, geography, economics, civics, and government. It puts a strong emphasis on important and enduring ideas, events, and people that now affect students' lives and serve as a foundation for the future.
What are the 5 pillars of economics systems? ›
The Five Pillars model suggests five indicator cate- gories that can measure a community's likelihood of long-term economic success: (1) health, (2) education, Page 8 8 O'Hara • The Five Pillars of Economic Development (3) environmental quality & recreation, (4) social & cultural amenities, and (5) information & ...
What are the 5 levels of economic development? ›Using these ideas, Rostow penned his classic Stages of Economic Growth in 1960, which presented five steps through which all countries must pass to become developed: 1) traditional society, 2) preconditions to take-off, 3) take-off, 4) drive to maturity and 5) age of high mass consumption.
Is the German economy on the brink of collapse? ›Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Wednesday said Germany's economy would head into recession in 2023 as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin's economic war on the West.
Is Germany the strongest economy in the world? ›Germany. Germany has the 4th largest GDP in the world. The total value of exports and imports is equal to 86.9% of GDP. Germany is a European nation with the biggest drivers of its economy being its service industries, including telecommunication, healthcare, and tourism.
Why German economy is so strong? ›In the business world, it is well known that Germany has a strong economy and worldwide trading reputation, but why is this? The German economy's competitiveness and worldwide networking can be attributed to its elevated level of innovation and strong export orientation.
Is Germany having a cost of living crisis? ›Prices in Germany are rising sharply, especially for energy, and inflation is eating into wages. There are fears the cost-of-living crisis could shake the German middle class.
Is poverty high in Germany? ›According to the Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband, Germany's umbrella organization for welfare organizations, 13.8 million Germans either live in poverty or are at risk of slipping below the poverty line. The German government also voices its concerns about the growing gap between rich and poor.
How do you approach a German guy? ›German men prefer real conversations and don't enjoy polite chit chat. Small talk seems superficial or shallow to most of them. Instead of flirty chatting to catch his attention, jump right to the point of your conversation and ask him questions to start to get to know him. If he's into you too, he'll do the same.
What do Germans wear? ›Germans love to dress stylishly. Clothes in dark or neutral colors are always a great choice when packing for Germany. Jeans are very popular, but they are always smart and clean, rather than distressed or ripped styles.
What are Germans descended from? ›The German ethnicity emerged among Germanic peoples of Western and Central Europe, particularly the Franks, Frisians, Saxons, Thuringii, Alemanni and Baiuvarii. The beginnings of the German states can be traced back to the Frankish king Clovis I, who established the kingdom of Francia in the 5th century.
What are the seven 7 major types of social influence? ›
- Reciprocity: People dislike feeling indebted. ...
- Commitment: People require consistency. ...
- Social Proof: People do what they observe others doing. ...
- Authority: People trust authority. ...
- Liking: People prefer similarities. ...
- Scarcity: Less quantity equals more demand. ...
- Unity: Us and them.
The major types of societies historically have been hunting-and-gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial.
What social factors affect your family life? ›Factors like gender, age, race, and ethnicity are just some of the factors that influence the relationships, structures, and practices within each family. Shifting demographics also tend to affect family culture and sociologists seek to understand why and how.
What do Germans have in common? ›German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another's privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of 'order' is more apparent than in German business culture.
What's so special about Germany? ›It is a country that is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Plus it is a world leader in economics, automotive technology, engineering, and many other fields. Then you add in its food, all things Christmas, football and it turns out that Germany has provided the world with quite a lot.
What are 10 economic issues? ›- Number One: Government Expenditures and Deficits. ...
- Number Two: Social Security. ...
- Number Four: Median Family Income. ...
- Number Five: The Savings Rate. ...
- Number Six: Consumption Binge. ...
- Number Seven: No Retirement Funds. ...
- Number Eight: High Family Debt. ...
- Number Nine: Healthcare.
- What to produce and what quantity to produce?
- How to produce?
- For whom to produce the goods?
- How efficient are the resources being utilised?
- Is the economy growing?
- What to produce?
- How to produce?
- For whom to produce?
- What provisions (if any) are to be made for economic growth?
Berlin's housing crisis
Global housing prices have risen at the fastest rate in 40 years, while a recent study of 200 cities around the world determined 90% of them to be unaffordable to live in. Even in this painfully-pricey context, Berlin's housing crisis is especially acute.
Germany's inflation rate of 8.7% last year is by far the strongest on record since the country's reunification. Data for the euro area are due on Friday, following reports from France and Italy in the coming days. Inflation in the region is seen slowing below 10% for the first time in three months.
Is Germany suffering from inflation? ›
Annual inflation rate in Germany edged higher to 8.7% in January of 2023 from a four-month low of 8.6% in the previous month, but below market forecasts of 8.9%, preliminary estimates showed.
What is the biggest problem in Germany? ›Germany's domestic intelligence agency put the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party under formal surveillance for potential extremist links in February 2021. The agency's chief identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in Germany.
What issues is Germany facing in 2022? ›In a year beset by gas crises, record-breaking inflation and eight months of war in Europe, German concerns about finances have been pushed into overdrive in 2022, according to the latest edition of the "Fears of the Germans" annual survey.
What are examples of social structures? ›Examples of social structure include family, religion, law, economy, and class. It contrasts with "social system", which refers to the parent structure in which these various structures are embedded.
What is the typical family structure in Germany? ›Most German households are quite small, consisting of the nuclear family alone (mother, father and their children). The extended family generally lives separately. This family form (with children living at home being under 18 years of age) continues to be the most common family structure.
What are the three social structures? ›Norms, roles, and institutions are all components of the social structure on different levels of complexity.
What are the three 3 major branches social structure? ›There are three sub types within the hierarchy of social structure theories: social disorganization theory, strain theory, and culture conflict theory.
What are 5 examples of structures? ›Buildings, aircraft, skeletons, anthills, beaver dams, bridges and salt domes are all examples of load-bearing structures. The results of construction are divided into buildings and non-building structures, and make up the infrastructure of a human society.
What are the 4 types of structures? ›- Frame: made of separate members (usually thin pieces) put together.
- Shell: encloses or contains its contents.
- Solid (mass): made almost entirely of matter.
- liquid (fluid): braking fluid making the brakes.
Sociologists generally posit three classes: upper, working (or lower), and middle. The upper class in modern capitalist societies is often distinguished by the possession of largely inherited wealth.
What is the culture in Germany? ›
Germany is known for its long and rich history, one that has put it at the forefront of European thought, politics, and art for over 1,000 years. This history has shaped a culture that combines predominantly Christian values with literature, art, philosophy, logic, reason, and, of course, a love of beer and sausages.
What is the lifestyle of Germany? ›Typical Germans have high demands for punctuality in their acquaintances and friends as well as business partners. The lifestyle of German is very private and involves very direct structure and routines on their life. Germans relationship with food is based on traditions and rituals of eating cooked food together.
What are the values and beliefs of Germany? ›Despite all the changes in society, Germany remains a country with conservative values. The system of government, strong civil society and respect for human rights are considered the cornerstones of Germany, and are awarded due recognition as such.
What are the 3 most important social institutions of a society? ›- Family.
- Economy.
- Religion.
- Education.
- Government or State.
While some people think of religion as something individual because religious beliefs can be highly personal, religion is also a social institution. Social scientists recognize that religion exists as an organized and integrated set of beliefs, behaviours, and norms centred on basic social needs and values.
How many types of social structures are there? ›Talcott Parsons has described 4 principal types of social structure. His classifications is based on four social values – universalistic social values, particularistic social values, achieved social values and ascribed social values.
What are the 9 disciplines of social sciences and description? ›The most common social science subjects include Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics, Geography, History, Law, Linguistics, Politics, Psychology and Sociology. Social sciences can help uncover useful insights into society in a variety of ways - from understanding how minds work, to how societies as a whole function.
What are the 9 applied social sciences? ›The most important branches of Social Science are Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, History, Law, Linguistics, Archaeology and Geography.
What are the four types of social system? ›- Particularistic Ascriptive Type.
- Particularistic Achievement Type.
- Universalistic Achievement Type.
- Universalistic Ascription Type.