DOI: 10.5164/IAB.THA-BHP8923.de.en.v1
Summary
For East Germany, the IAB's administrative establishment data only starts in 1992, and the eastern reports can only be assumed to be sufficiently complete from 1993 onwards. This means that crucial information is missing for the years 1989 to 1991, during which Germany underwent significant upheaval.
This gap has been closed by linking the administrative establishment data of the IAB (Establishment History Panel, 1992–2023) with the data of the Treuhandanstalt (THA) and the Federal Agency for Unification-Related Special Tasks (BvS) of the Federal Archives (THA-BHP 8923). It is now possible to identify former GDR companies or their establishments that were privatised by the THA/BvS in the IAB's administrative data. Record linkage procedures were used to link the data.
Dataset Descriptions and Frequencies
German
- DOI: 10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2517.de.v1
- FDZ-Datenreport 17/2025 (pdf)
- Auszählungen und Labels (zip)
English
Frequencies and labels (zip)
Data Access
On-site Use included Remote Data Access. Further information on Applying for on-site use.
Test data
Test data in Stata are available in order to allow for the preparation of programs to facilitate remote data access as well as on-site use:
Test data for Stata: THA-BHP8923v1_Testdaten_Stata.zip (expected to be published in January 2026)
Test data are random and therefore not for analysis!
Other Working Tools
We provide establishment fixed effects (AKM effects) for this data set. To access the effects in an existing project please write us an email. Further information can be found in this FDZ-Methodenreport (pdf).
Further working tools as the overview on classifications of economic activities, a list of upper earnings limits and marginal part-time income thresholds and papers on working with the FDZ data can be found at key working tools of the FDZ.
Citation
Researchers working with the THA-BHP are obligated to acknowledge the data base and its documentation within their publications, including the DOI, by using the following reference:
Data:
Diegmann, André; Dummert, Sandra; Gottschalk, Sandra; Lubczyk, Moritz (2025): "Data from the Treuhandanstalt ("Trust agency") linked with the Establishment History Panel (BHP) of the IAB (THA-BHP) – Version 8923 v1". Research Data Centre of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). DOI: 10.5164/IAB.THA-BHP8923.de.en.v1
The data access was provided via on-site use at the Research Data Centre (FDZ) of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and subsequently remote data access.
Data documentation:
Diegmann, André; Dummert, Sandra; Gottschalk, Sandra; Lubczyk, Moritz (2025): Daten der Treuhandanstalt verknüpft mit dem Betriebs-Historik-Panel des IAB 1989 - 2023 (THA-BHP 8923). FDZ-Datenreport, 17/2025 (de), Nürnberg. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2517.de.v1
According to the FDZ Data Usage Agreement, any type of publication resulting from work with FDZ data must be reported to the FDZ by email at the latest one month after publication. The notification must include an electronic version of the printed version or, after publication, a reprint or a copy of the publication free of charge.
Data Versions
>> Further information on other versions of the THA-BHP datasets.