According to Michael Hüther, Germany must fundamentally discuss working hours and work volume – it is “a question of collective bargaining policy, social policy and family policy in the broadest sense”.
Bert Rürup refers to Agenda 2010. When it was introduced, Germany was a low-tax country by international comparison. And that’s why it went up so quickly. The opposite is currently the case.
What surprises him: None of the well-known economists addresses the complexity of this problem: “We will not be able to increase the employment gap, the volume of work through immigration. So we really have to think about what we can afford.” The number of women in the workforce has increased rapidly. But the volume of work done has nevertheless declined.
Michael Hüther also sees potential among women. In the end, it is about a social issue and a division of labor within the family. Nevertheless, the mobilization of a higher volume of work by women will not be able to solve the demographic problem: “That’s why we have to talk about working hours overall.” The differences to neighboring countries are evident. There really is a point here that needs to be brought to the fore. “Because we ask: How do we get back into perspective with this sick man?”
Rürup replies: “The fact is: the medicine that you described as Agenda 2010, which worked then, is in my opinion no longer particularly suitable in the present. So what would an Agenda 2030 look like?” That is actually the exciting question for him, but strangely enough it is not addressed.
>> The current HRI economic forecast can be found here
The episodes of the “Economic Challenges” podcast can be accessed via Apple, Spotify, Deezer and Handelsblatt/Audio. You can read more about the topics in the “Chefökonom”, Professor Rürup’s newsletter. You can register for the newsletter here.
If you have praise, criticism or topic requests, please write to us or send us a voice message [email protected]