Suburbanisierung der Bevölkerung in Großstadtregionen Sachsens: erste Trends nach dem politischen Wandel

Abstract

Until the political change in 1989 no suburbanisation processes took place in the conurbations of Saxony, as well as in the conurbations of the whole former GDR. Today the conurbations of the New Länder are on the threshold of a first residential suburbanisation wave into the immediate fringe of the central cities, the question concerning the residential suburbanisation is, • whether the conurbations of the New Länder will experience similar suburbanisation processes like in West Germany during the sixties and seventies, connected with urban sprawl and increasing segregation of the population, or • whether the process of suburbanisation will begin at a limited range. This consideration is due to the present generel conditions in East Germany, for instance a slower start of new housing construction, less available capital among the population and high unemployment. After the great migration losses 1989/1990 to the Old Länder a first tendency of residential suburbanisation appeard in the fringe of the central cities in 1992. Contrary to the development pattern in West Germany where the city population first migrated into the suburban areas before the service industry and trades followed, this sequence was reversed in the New Länder of Germany. But the extent of residential suburbanisation is very small for the time being. It is based above all on intraregional migration gains from the central cities. It is easy to recognise the typical age pattern of young families moving into the suburban area. Migration gains are in the 25 to 45 and 0 to 15 age groups. But a change in the migration pattern with the Old Länder is also evident. The county of Dresden had in 1992 for the first time a positive net migration. Large designated housing land areas in the hinterland of the central cities form the basis of an increasing residential suburbanisation. Only in the suburban area of Leipzig more than 1000 ha are designated. Housing construction in the suburban areas in Saxony serve primarily the condominium market. The construction of those condominiums is stongly based on specific investman tax regulations in East Germany. Presently 70% of all condominiums are bought by investors from the Old Länder. In general, the migration from the central cities into the suburban areas is limited by reasons of the housing market's existing price structure. With regard to its social structure it carries a very selective character.