Hertie Berlin Study 2014: A city of optimists

Download the study here (available only in German).

Berlin, 4 November 2014 - The Hertie Foundation has released the second edition of its Berlin Study. The 2014 edition - authored by a team of experts from the Hertie School under the leadership of sociologists Helmut K. Anheier and Klaus Hurrelmann - preempts the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. 2000 Berliners from the age of 14 up, were interviewed by telephone regarding their opinions and attitudes on Germany's capital. The sample was representative of the full spectrum of Berlin's resident population. The interviews were supplemented with social, economic and demographic data. The study paints a comprehensive picture of the city today in comparison to 2009, from the perspective of its inhabitants. 

<link de media-events hertie-school-press-room news nachrichten-details article hertie-berlin-studie-2014-hauptstadt-der-optimisten-1 _blank the rest of press release in>Read the full press release (in German)

Summary of the Berlin Study 2014's Key Findings:

• In general, the mood is very optimistic
  93% say, they enjoy living in Berlin (59% strongly agrees with this statement, 34% generally agrees) and see a bright future: 69% of Berliners believe that the city will develop positively within the next five years.
• Berlin is growing and getting younger. Since 2010 the city's population has grown by 1% annually and gotten younger, contrary to the Germany-wide trend.
• High rate of identification with the city. Over 90% of interviewed residents consider themselves Berliners
• The East/West divide is crumbling in minds. 36% of interviewees indicated that they see no difference between east and west Berlin (versus 24% in 2009).
• The city's centre and periphery are drifting apart. The central neighbourhoods, in contrast to the peripheral neighbourhoods, are characterised by a social, cultural and economic influx and growth.
• Dissatisfaction with politics, recognition for public administration. Although the interviewees are generally dissatisfied with politics and politicians they are satisfied with Berlin's public administration, which is at its capacity's limits but nonetheless competent and friendly.

For more information about the key findings and the study visit: www.hertieberlinstudie.de