Supporting Urban Development in Germany

In cooperation with the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), SOEP data are used to study the living situation and attitudes of people in the areas covered by the urban development funding program “Urban Development Support programme” (Sozialer Zusammenhalt). Since 2020, this program has continued the former Soziale Stadt program. It supports the stabilization and upgrading of urban districts and neighborhoods that are disadvantaged or structurally weak in terms of their built environment, economy, and social conditions. For the 2026 survey, a supplementary sample of approximately 5,600 households will be drawn from selected funding areas of the program. The aim is to interview around 715 households. The questionnaire is based on that of the SOEP main study. In 2027, the same households will be interviewed a second time. From 2028 onward, the participating households are to continue being interviewed as part of the main surveys of the SOEP “Leben in Deutschland” (Living in Germany).

Integrating this additional sample strengthens the research potential, particularly for questions of urban development policy and the effects of urban funding programs. The data will be made available through the SOEP Research Data Center (FDZ SOEP), together with the data from the SOEP main survey conducted at the same time.