Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government Commissioner for the East (SPD), has called for action following recent data from the Federal Statistical Office regarding the wealth gap between the East and West concerning inheritances and gifts. Kaiser stated to news outlets from the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that the new figures clearly reveal the persistent differences in the material starting conditions between the eastern and western parts of Germany.
According to the Federal Commissioner, individuals who inherit little or nothing must build their own financial security and assets from the ground up. She emphasized that this lack of inheritance directly impacts people’s opportunities, specifically regarding home ownership, starting a business, pursuing further education, or changing careers.
Kaiser stressed that even those who receive little or no inheritance should still have the chance to build something for themselves. While the subsidized early retirement scheme represents an important first step, she argued that more is needed if the starting conditions for young people are to fundamentally change. “A basic inheritance, for example, can give young people starting capital independent of their parents’ household,” she said. She also called for a discussion on how large inheritances should be taxed more equitably in the future.
The data from the Federal Statistical Office shows clear disparities between East and West regarding the tax implications of inheritances and gifts. Statisticians announced on Tuesday in Wiesbaden that in 2025, 95 percent of the total value of assets transferred through taxable inheritances and donations fell in the western federal states, despite the east accounting for an 81 percent share of the overall population. Conversely, the eastern federal states, which represent 19 percent of the population, received only 5 percent of that total value.
Kaiser is scheduled to present her annual report on the status of German Unity this Wednesday.
