Much of the brightest moved off to the West (I don't have figures, but the population shift was in the millions - maybe a quarter or even third moved), and the exodus still continues today. The money pouring into the East is not only spent on a lot of expensive but stupid projects, but there is a weak basis left for high-skilled workers and entrepreneurs for the desired capitalist boom. It may have been better to do unification gradually, and without destroying structures in the East.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}