The book concludes with the dismantling of East German economics after the reunification of Germany in 1990. The cleansing of the teaching staff was more radical than in any other reform seen in twentieth-century economics. In a very short time, Western research standards and teaching practices were enforced. The economists of the hope generation, however, were spared having their careers cut and retired jointly with the GDR. They continued holding on to the basic belief that had endured throughout their career: that the future of socialism remains to be built.