Economic stagnation in the 1980s- the poor quality of consumer goods

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Created by: eloise.wroe01
Created on: 27-05-19 16:34

Why did consumer expectations rise in the 1980s?

Due to citizens becoming more aware of the quality of goods on sale in the West.

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What also became clear about consumer goods in the GDR in 1980s?

They were lagging behind the west

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What kinds of consumer goods were particularly poor quality in the East?

Cars, television sets, refrigerators + much much more

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What was increasingly important for citizens due to poor quality consumer goods?

To have contacts such as shop assistants who could mysteriously find goods for a price or experts in DIY as appliances frequently broke down. Technically adapt friends who could improvise with what came to hand were in demand-lack of spare parts

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Was society equal in regard to the availability+access to consumer goods?

No there were anomalies- 65% of GDR public servants had access to a telephone compared with 25% of members of the working class

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What was the major contradiction regarding the provision of consumer goods?

a desire to impose satisfactory standards of living for everyone and individual citizens' desire for personal possessions- the production of consumer goods lacked priority

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What did the dissatisfaction surrounding communal canteens and national laundry service suggest about what GDR citizens really wanted?

Most people did not want state owned, communal services and they would rather do these things for themselves and their families

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What also became clear about consumer goods in the GDR in 1980s?

Back

They were lagging behind the west

Card 3

Front

What kinds of consumer goods were particularly poor quality in the East?

Back

Card 4

Front

What was increasingly important for citizens due to poor quality consumer goods?

Back

Card 5

Front

Was society equal in regard to the availability+access to consumer goods?

Back

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Economic stagnation in the 1980s- the poor quality of consumer goods