Did Social Change Strengthen Genetic Effects? Gendered Educational Attainment Before and After German Reunification

Recent research on post-socialist societies demonstrates that as institutional barriers decline, the genetic effects on educational attainment become more pronounced. However, extant studies have only partially considered the role of gender in this process. To reduce this gap in the literature, this study examines gendered genetic influences on educational attainment in Germany before and after reunification. Drawing on Gene-SOEP data (N=1,573), we analyze polygenic risk scores across cohorts (1943 to 1992) in East (German Democratic Republic, GDR) and West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, FRG) using stepwise OLS regression with three-way interactions. Our findings reveal that genetic influences on educational attainment increased over time, thereby reducing gendered educational inequality in both regions. However, this positive trend was more gradual in the FRG. Although the GDR promoted gender equality, its policies alone were insufficient to eliminate gender-based differences in genetic educational attainment.