Main Task

Main Task (German: Hauptaufgabe) was the economic policy proclaimed in the German Democratic Republic during the Eight SED Congress in June 1971, and aimed at increased production of previously neglected consumer goods for the population and to increase its material well-being in order to keep it pacified and to secure the continued power of the ruling SED Party. The policy officially was aimed at "raising the people’s material and cultural standard of living on the basis of a fast developmental pace of socialist production, of higher efficiency, of scientific-technological progress and the growth of the productivity of labour". Or in the official formulation - to achieve "unity of economic and social policy". Between 1971 and 1982 the GDP of the GDR grew at average 5% annually, however the pursued policy only increased state’s debts and by 1982 GDR was nearly insolvent. This change of policy was greatly influenced by the 1970 Polish protests which lead to greater emphasis on consumer goods and welfare policies in the whole of Eastern Bloc.

In reaction to Walter Ulbricht’s many policy changes, Erich Honecker imposed a more traditionalist Weimar-era communist ideology which influenced his economic policies as well. Instead of Ulbricht’s technocrats who dreamt about overtaking capitalist West, he promoted ideologues who ended experiments and pursued more short-term goals of increased welfare. Wages, pensions and welfare programs were increased thus providing population with more money to spend on consumer goods. The following few years were some of the most prosperous in the history of the GDR. Emphasis on the welfare programs for women was one of the ways to further increased participation of women in the workforce. In 1970 82% of working age women were employed, in 1980 this rose to 87% and in 1989 to 91%.

As the working-age population was already almost fully employed, to increae productivity the "Scientific Organisation of Labour" policy was introduced in 1973. Three-shift system and elements of Taylorism were introduced to maximize the work intensity.

Much capital and energy was spent on building new housing districts and restoration of the neglected pre-war housing stock in order to provide all families with decent housing. While the prefabricated housing districts lacked individuality, they provided the basic living needs at a very low cost, as the state was subsidizing much of the rent and utilities costs. Much of Honecker’s policies reflected the ideals of his communist youth. Cheap housing, utilities and basic food stuffs to him meant more than cars and modern consumer goods that GDR population increasingly desired, especially when it compared its living standards with those of Western Germany.

The official GDR statistics claimed that in 1970 for every 100 households there were 15 cars, 53 washing machines, 56 refrigerators and 69 TVs. In 1981 this had risen to 37 cars, 82 washing machines, 99 refrigerators and 90 TVs.