Return migration to East Germany - Motives and Potentials for Regional Development

The reunification of Germany, accompanied by the rapid downfall of East German industries, led to major migration flows. The loss of population in East Germany is an issue that has been the focus of intense discussion in both political and media circles. This population decline is mainly the result of negative migration balances, which are caused more by low in-migration rates than by the exit rates, as the latter are not above average.