Five years after the first Hertie Berlin Study and 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Hertie Foundation commissioned an expert team under the academic leadership of Helmut K. Anheier and Klaus Hurrelmann to analyse the life experience of Berliners. In the study, 2000 Berliners share their views on their life situation, their satisfaction with politics, administration and city life in general.
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.
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Study results
Hertie Berlin Study website
Project leads
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Helmut K. Anheier, past President and Professor of Sociology
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Klaus Hurrelmann, Professor of Public Health and Education
Faculty and researchers
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Kai Wegrich, Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy
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Michaela Kreyenfeld, Professor of Sociology
