“Foundation for Prosperity”
Greens want cash injections for ailing economy
08/31/2023, 1:50 p.m
In order to boost the German economy, the Greens are relying on more investments. In a six-page paper, they want to advance essential projects, such as infrastructure expansion. Something should also be done in terms of reducing bureaucracy.
The Greens want to boost the economy with a subsidized industrial electricity price and more investments. “We want to get Germany back on course for growth as a modern location,” says a nearly six-page paper entitled “Securing prosperity: A dynamic economy for a just society,” which the federal executive board decided at a meeting in Nuremberg. “This creates the basis for prosperity, justice and social participation.”
The federal government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP has already achieved a lot that will take effect in the coming months, it said, including the Growth Opportunities Act, immigration of skilled workers and the expansion of power grids. What is now needed, among other things, is a state-reduced bridge electricity price for industry. It was proposed by Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and is intended to bridge the period until sufficient electricity is generated from renewable energies. In addition, further bureaucracy must be reduced: “The mountain of applications and proof must be reduced in order to pave the way for innovations and modernization.”
“No state money for wage dumping”
The Greens want to counteract the lack of specialists and workers with a paid training period during which employees can gain further qualifications. In addition, the master craftsman’s certificate and the course of study should be free of charge.
According to the Greens, the federal government should organize specific tasks such as the construction and planning of infrastructure with public investment companies. In the case of an investment company, the federal government would provide it with equity. It could then raise and invest further capital through loans. The federal government would take responsibility for that. Deutsche Bahn needed more equity to maintain and expand the rail network, it said. A federal agreement on adherence to collective agreements should ensure that a representative collective agreement for the industry is created when public contracts are awarded, “that means: no state money for wage dumping”.