Discussion Paper
No. 2008-8 | March 17, 2008
Harald Tauchmann
West-East Convergence in the Prevalence of Illicit Drugs: Socioeconomics or Culture?

Abstract

In contrast to West-Germany, illicit drugs were virtually absent in the East-Germany until 1990. Yet, after the collapse of the former GDR, East-Germany was expected to encounter a sharp increase in the prevalence of substance abuse. By analyzing individual data, we find that East-Germany largely caught up with West-Germany’s ever-growing prevalence of illicit drugs within a single decade. We decompose the west-east difference in prevalence rates into an explained and an unexplained part using a modified Blinder-Oaxaca procedure. This decomposition suggests that the observed convergence is just weakly related to socioeconomic characteristics and therefore remains mainly unexplained. That is, West- and East-Germans seem to have become more alike per se. We conclude that both parts of the country have converged in terms of the culture of drug consumption.

JEL Classification:

I12, P23, P36

Links

Cite As

[Please cite the corresponding journal article] Harald Tauchmann (2008). West-East Convergence in the Prevalence of Illicit Drugs: Socioeconomics or Culture? Economics Discussion Papers, No 2008-8, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2008-8


Comments and Questions



Anonymous - Referee Report
May 07, 2008 - 10:43
See attached file

Harald Tauchmann - Response to Referee 1
June 11, 2008 - 08:42
Response to Referee 1 Many thanks for your comments. They were indeed very constructive. You will find below some indication of how I will take them into account in preparing the revision of the paper. Best Regards, Harald

Anonymous - Referee Report
May 19, 2008 - 10:51
See attached file

Harald Tauchmann - Response to Referee 2
June 13, 2008 - 08:57
Response to Referee 2 Many thanks for your comments. They were indeed very constructive. You will find below some indication of how I will take them into account in preparing the revision of the paper. Best Regards, Harald