Gastkommentar: Wir verlieren den Mittelstand im ländlichen Raum
Familienunternehmen bauen, mitunter das erste Mal seit Jahrzehnten, die Zahl ihrer Beschäftigten ab. Wenn Existenzängste wachsen, gibt das extremen Parteien Auftrieb, schreibt David Deißner.
The upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are shedding light on an issue that has been surprisingly overlooked in political discussions: the state of rural areas. In eastern Germany, around three-quarters of all districts are rural. In Germany as a whole, 57% of citizens reside in rural regions. However, the concerns of these people living "in the countryside" are often a footnote in urban-centric political debates.
The forthcoming state elections should prompt a question: How are the economic foundations of rural areas faring? Germany is one of few developed nations with such a diverse range of economically strong regions. As one travels through small towns and villages, the presence of factories, warehouses, and office buildings of companies is evident, often relegated to the margins of roads.
These giants are world market leaders "in the middle of nowhere". This diversity forms the essence of Germany: alongside craftsmanship and small trades, there are numerous internationally active family-owned businesses. While DAX conglomerates are predominantly located in sprawling urban centers, family businesses dominate the rural landscape.
Over half of all companies with more than 50 employees are family-run and operate within the region, providing the majority of jobs and offering prospects to young people outside of major cities.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
