{
  "id": 8869748,
  "title": "Konjunktur: Standortprobleme: Bürokratie mit großem Abstand vorne",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/konjunktur-standortprobleme-burokratie-mit-gro-em-abstand-vorne",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T07:09:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/konjunktur-standortprobleme-buerokratie-mit-grossem-abstand-vorne/100256097.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "A recent survey by the Munich Ifo Institute reveals that bureaucratic red tape is the most significant issue facing the German economy, cited by 50% of companies surveyed. Energy and labor costs follow in the distance, mentioned by 27% and 22%, respectively. Klaus Wohlrabe, head of Ifo surveys, explains that bureaucracy impacts businesses in two ways: it binds up personnel that are otherwise needed, and it prevents investments from becoming profitable once the costs of permits and documentation are taken into account. The perception of bureaucracy grows more burdensome as companies become larger. Among medium and large businesses, 59% and 58% of respondents, respectively, mention bureaucratic issues, while solo self-employed and micro-enterprises report them much less frequently, at 33% and 41%, respectively. Wohlrabe notes that businesses with employees, facilities, and exports are subject to multiple regulations simultaneously, including labor law, reporting requirements, and data protection. Even smaller businesses are affected by many of these obligations, with larger firms implementing them almost all at once. While the survey allows for multiple responses, other frequently cited problems include a shortage of skilled workers (17%), political framework conditions (16%), taxes and fees, and a lack of planning security (both 13%). The perception of bureaucracy varies across economic sectors, with construction and services listing it less frequently (45% and 46%, respectively) compared to industry (55%). In industry, energy costs rank second at 39%, followed by construction at 24%. For services, political and regulatory conditions rank second at 17%, closely followed by demand and the overall economic situation at 25%, ahead of energy and labor costs.",
  "summary": "Wo zwickt es deutsche Unternehmen am meisten? Einer Umfrage des Ifo-Instituts zufolge liegen weder die vielgescholtenen Arbeitskosten noch die hohen Energiepreise vorne.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bureaucratic red tape cited by 50% of German companies",
    "Energy and labor costs rank second, mentioned by 27% and 22%",
    "Larger businesses more burdened by bureaucratic issues"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}