Wachstumsschwäche überwinden: Nicht mehr Schulden, sondern mehr Produktivitätswachstum ist der Schlüssel

Short- and medium-term growth perspectives in Germany are bleak. This is putting the public budget under stress. A reform of the debt brake could increase public financial leeway, but would not in itself solve the fundamental economic problems. Even with a higher permissible level of government debt, pension system expenditure will rise sharply, and real shortages, for example in the labour market, cannot be resolved in the short term with more debt either. The new federal government should therefore focus more on promoting productivity. A change in policy towards more market-based solutions and fewer national unilateral actions, for example, could unlock potential in the energy transition.