The Economic Balance Sheet on One Page
30 years of Bundestag decisions (1996–2026), assessed by their impact on growth, competitiveness and fiscal sustainability – scale −10 to +10.
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Since 2011 the majority of resolutions ran against competitiveness – the economy was not the focus. We are seeing the result today.
Every new resolution must strengthen the economy as a location: at least neutral, better still clearly positive. Only in this way can we reverse course.
The Biggest Drags on Growth
- −9Completion of the nuclear energy phase-out2023
- −8Accelerated phase-out of nuclear energy (13th Atomic Energy Act amendment)2011
- −8Retirement at 63 and mothers' pension2014
- −7Coal Phase-out Act2020
- −7Statutory increase of the minimum wage to 12 euros2022
The Most Effective Reforms
- +8Agenda 2010 / Hartz reforms (Hartz I–IV)2004
- +7Retirement at 67 (age threshold adjustment)2007
- +7Bank rescue / financial market stabilisation (SoFFin)2008
- +6Tax Reform 2000 / Tax Reduction Act2000
- +6Corporate Tax Reform 20082008
Balance per government (net)
| Merkel I | CDU/CSU + SPD | +36 |
| Schröder | SPD + Greens | +19 |
| Merz | CDU/CSU + SPD | −3 |
| Merkel II | CDU/CSU + FDP | −5 |
| Traffic-light coalition | SPD + Greens + FDP | −19 |
| Merkel III/IV | CDU/CSU + SPD | −20 |
Now before the Bundestag
- +3Pension Reform 2026 based on the Old-Age Security Commission
- +6Federal Building Code (BauGB) Amendment 2026
- +4Second Act Amending the Federal Requirements Plan Act
- +4Reform of the Working Hours Act – Transition to a Weekly Maximum Working Time
- +4Act on the Introduction of an Active Pension
- +4Act to Reduce Electricity Costs
- +2Procurement Transformation Act
- +2Tax Reform 2026 – Tariff relief for low and middle incomes, family relief and adjustment of the wealth tax
- ±0Budget Act 2027 and Federal Financial Plan 2026 to 2030
The Benchmark – and Its Limits
This balance sheet deliberately measures one value: the contribution to growth, competitiveness and fiscal sustainability. Distributional, security or environmental goals are not devalued by this – they are simply not booked here as a benefit in their own right. The strength lies in consistency: the same question posed to every decision, transparently quantified and substantiated. This way, the economic effect remains at least visible in the political weighing-up.