Looking at the naked economic data, the Germans are doing pretty well: After the economy in Germany for many years grumbled, unemployment is low and most people feel the long upswing personally in their pockets. And yet there seems to be great uncertainty in the middle of society, as a new Allensbach study shows, commissioned by the Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV).
Because a majority of the so-called middle generation sees considerable risks for the German economy. 41 percent of the 30- to 59-year-olds believe that the German economy will rather fall behind in the coming years. Only just under a quarter of respondents believe that the German economy can defend its strong position.
The "middle generation" comprises about 35 million people nationwide. They account for 70 percent of the workforce and more than 80 percent of taxable income. These are the "service providers of our society", as it is called in the study, which is conducted every year.
Remarkably, the share of those who believe that Germany is falling behind is very high, especially among good-earners of this generation: 44 percent of them assume that the economy could soon go downhill.
According to the Allensbach data, the pessimism of Germans can not be left to the personal situation. Because the surveyed citizens are more satisfied than ever with their current economic situation: 44 percent of the "middle-class" is doing better today than five years ago, only 16 percent worse.
In 2019, the economic situation of the Germans improved even more than in the previous year. Especially in East Germany, the balance is positive: Here, 46 percent say that they feel better than five years ago, only 11 percent state a deterioration.
So why the gloomy look into the future?
Respondents cite the shortage of skilled workers and the policies of the American president as the biggest risks. In third place is the concern that Germany could miss the lead in important technological developments . Almost half of them cite climate change as a negative economic factor. Despite the good economic development, the Allensbach data show that profound uncertainty has affected large sections of the population.
Growing aggressiveness in city traffic
The social development in general also appears to cause discomfort in the population. Looking back over the past few years, half of the respondents even outweigh the negative social changes, with only 16 percent seeing predominantly positive developments.
These changes are felt by people in their everyday lives: Four out of five respondents find increasing aggression in social interaction. "Aggression and egoism, less and less respect, and growing xenophobia are a concern for the middle generation," says Allensbach CEO Renate Köcher.
Specifically, this aggressiveness 90 percent of the "middle generation" according to their own information in the road . With reckless and aggressive behavior many respondents see themselves in public places (59 percent) and in public transport (51 percent), but also on the Internet (54 percent).
The "middle-class" perspective on German society is basically very similar in East and West Germany. But there are some notable exceptions: 55 percent of East Germans believe that it plays a big role in Germany, whether they come from East or West Germany. Of the West German respondents, only 35 percent say so.
The regional origin is therefore a more important distinguishing feature for the 30- to 59-year-olds in East Germany than the educational qualification (46 percent approval) and almost as important as ownership and ownership (58 percent).