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East German espionage raised GDP by 7.4% in late 1980s, study finds

Global Published 27 September 2026, 11:54 · archived 27 Sep 2026

BERLIN: East Germany’s extensive Cold War economic espionage in the ​1970s and 1980s lifted its overall economic output ‌by 7.4% at the end of the 1980s, according to a study by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin, seen by ​Reuters on Sunday. Here are some more details: Industrial ​value added was 22.3% higher due to espionage, ⁠equivalent to 20.2 billion East German marks, or €4.1 ​billion ($4.7 billion) in 2020 prices. All estimates refer ​to 1988, the year before the Berlin Wall fell. Co-author Adrian Lerche said the findings had present-day relevance as governments tighten ​export controls, scr...

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