Gastkommentar: Das deutsche Reformparadox, und wie Merz es knacken kann
Alle wollen Reformen, doch jeder wartet darauf, dass die anderen anfangen. Robert Peters, Direktor des Instituts für Innovation und Technik, zeigt, wie sich diese Blockade lösen lässt.
In the coming weeks, it will be decided how Friedrich Merz will be remembered as Chancellor - as a successful reformer or a tragic figure who fails to rise to the challenge. This directly relates to the question of whether the world's third-largest economy can renew and make its prosperity model fit for the 2030s. To gain acceptance for fundamental structural reforms, it is not enough to better explain measures.
Those who today must bear disadvantages while reaping the benefits of uncertain action from others have good reasons to be hesitant. Therefore, reforms should be designed so that it is more sensible for stakeholders to move forward rather than wait. Awareness of the need for fundamental reforms is widespread. In a survey by the research group Elections in May 2026, 89 percent of respondents stated that fundamental reforms were necessary, even if this led to financial burdens.
Waiting for everyone to do so would result in a toxic cocktail. At the same time, it is observed that every group contributes based on the assumption that others create the prerequisite for it. Employees are more willing to support an higher retirement age if they can trust that burdens will be fairly distributed and longer working life is healthily possible. Companies invest in age-appropriate jobs when the policy sets reliable framework conditions.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
