Changes in the standard of living

• What was the unemployment rate in Germany in 1926?

  2 million
• What was the unemployment rate in Germany in 1928?

  1. 3 million
• How did the length of the working week change from 1926 to 1928?

  It fell from 50 hours to 46 hours
• By what percentage did real wages rise from 1925 to 1928?

  25%
• What was the housing shortage in Germany in 1923?

  One million homes
• What tax was introduced in 1925 to fund building associations?

  A 15% rent tax
• How many new homes were built by private companies and building associations from 1925 to 1929?

  Private companies built 37,000 homes and building associations built 64,000 homes
• What was the outcome of the housing shortage by 1929?

  The housing shortage continued but had eased
• What was the purpose of the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927?

  To provide unemployment and sickness benefits
• How much did workers contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927?

  3% of their wages
• What was the average benefit provided under the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927?

  60 marks per week
• Under the 1920 Reich Pension Law, how many war veterans received pensions?

  750,000 war veterans
• How many war widows received pensions under the 1920 Reich Pension Law?

  400,000 war widows
• By 1928, how many students were in higher education compared to pre-WW1?

  110,000 students compared to 70,000 pre-WW1
• What was the impact of the 1923 hyperinflation on savings and employment?

  The loss of savings was still felt, and employment remained insecure
• Unemployment fell from 2 million in 1926, to 1.3 million in 1928
• The length of the working week fell from 50 hours to 46 hours
• Real wages rose by 25% from 1925-1928
• In 1923, there was a shortage of one million homes in Germany. In 1925, a 15% rent tax was introduced to fund building associations. From 1925 to 1929, private companies built 37,000 new homes, while the new building association built 64,000 homes. The housing shortage continued but it had eased.
• The Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927 charged workers 3% of their wages and in return provided an average of 60 marks per week in unemployment and sickness benefits if they fell out of work.
• Under the 1920 Reich Pension Law pensions were paid to: 750,000 war veterans and 400,000 war widows.
• By 1928 the number of students in higher education had increased to 110,000 (pre-WW1: 70,000)
• But the loss of savings during 1923 hyperinflation was still felt, and employment remained insecure