East catching up with west. - According to the annual report on German unity, published by the German reconversion office for East Germany, Wolfgang Tiefensee, the former RDA is catching up with West German standards and is even proving more resistant to the crisis. With GDP per capita of €22,130, the new regions now account for 71% of the wealth produced in the west (€32,231) as opposed to just 67% in 2000. This year, the recession is expected to be limited to a fall of around 5% of GDP...