Das neue Geben: Die klügste Investition in Ostdeutschland ist eine Spende

In Dresden, a chip factory worth ten billion euros is being constructed, marking the largest private investment in eastern Germany's history. Farther west, in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD party is on the brink of victory in the state elections, with 43 percent support. This surge in AfD popularity has sparked concerns among investors, with over 80 percent of surveyed business development experts warning that the party's rise could pose a threat to their locations.

Not a single expert sees any opportunity in this shift. The Institute of Employment Research (IAB) quantifies how xenophobic attitudes in a region can stifle the influx of both foreign and domestic workers. Additionally, research spanning 51 populist governments since 1900 indicates that these regimes cost their countries around ten percent of their annual economic output after fifteen years.

Thus, skepticism towards private investments needs to dissipate; risks are not inherently damaging. However, they should be managed. Building a dike in a floodplain is a prudent approach, and that dike is composed of local civil society organizations—clubs, counseling centers, youth work—elements that make regions attractive to skilled workers while deterring extremist influences.