debundesliga1-6, Exercise 3: Was the merger fair?

Model answer:

Fair: the merger put eastern clubs into the national league system, with two places at the top and the rest placed by performance, and it applied one set of rules to all.

Not fair: the eastern league was far poorer, so clubs started at a disadvantage; few places went to the East; and the loss of players and money followed.

Evidence that would help: the criteria used and how they were applied, the places given compared with the number of clubs, finances at the time, and the later record of eastern clubs. The course takes no side; claims should be checked.