German spy thriller Deutschland 83, currently available on 4OD, is very good entertainment. But it shows a very one-sided view of the standard of living of East German workers.
The main character’s mother needs a kidney transplant and can only get it by encouraging her son to become a spy. This is the basis of the whole series.
All health systems, whether in Stalinist or capitalist countries, have waiting lists. The mother was told she could jump the queue. In the capitalist West, if you’ve got the money, you can go private.
The shocking collapse of the grossly undemocratic – but nevertheless planned – Stalinist economies is far better brought out in the film ‘Goodbye Lenin’.
The introduction of capitalism in these countries has meant the collapse of services like housing and health which previously were free. The result has been the lowering of life expectancy and other indicators.
Yes, the bureaucracy always ensured it got to the head of the queue first. But for millions, there was a far higher level of public services than under capitalism.
The series never brings this out, but concentrates on the Stasi and spy services instead.