Standort: Wachstum der Produktivität in Deutschland eingebrochen – Wohlstandserhalt müsste verfünffacht werden

Germany's productivity growth has slowed significantly in recent years, according to a study by the Institute of German Economy (IW) commissioned by the Foundation of Family Enterprises and published exclusively to the Handelsblatt. The study reveals that productivity growth in the country has been averaging only 0.3 percent per year over the past six years, down from two percent annually in the 1980s and 1990s.

This is due to several factors, including the demography of the workforce, which will see fewer workers available in the coming years.

To counterbalance this decline in productivity, the study suggests that Germany's growth rate should increase to 1.6 percent per year. This can be achieved by making changes in five key areas: digitalization, artificial intelligence, innovation, bureaucracy, and investment. By implementing these changes, productivity could potentially increase by 13 percent through increased research spending, similar to the level of Israel.

This would raise the economic performance of the country so much that a three-person household would see an annual increase of €21,000.

The authors of the study suggest that implementing the ideas and practices of other countries, such as Switzerland and South Korea, could be beneficial for Germany. For instance, Switzerland invests 6 percent of its GDP in digital infrastructure, while Germany invests less than 2 percent. Increasing digitalization in Germany could lead to a productivity boost of 0.07 percent in the first year and 5 percent after 17 years.

Similarly, increasing artificial intelligence adoption in Germany could lead to a 0.6 percent productivity boost in the short term, and up to 9.3 percent by 2034 if half of the companies use AI by 2034. The South Korean "AI Voucher" program, which subsidizes AI solutions for companies up to 80 percent, could also be a potential model for Germany.

While the effects of these productivity-enhancing measures would not be immediate, they could significantly boost Germany's economic growth and prevent a decline in prosperity.