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Suddenly boss! And let's put it this way: Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken do not yet come across quite confidently. This could explain why some commentators in recent days rather critical of the fact that the two should now lead the SPD. To put it nicely.
It seems bizarre in a sober arrangement rather mockery - at least when it comes to what the supposedly so left-crazy dream duo has proposed economic policy. If one were to present the list of ideas of any selection of internationally renowned economists, they would most likely get a clear majority - economically reasonable. And possibly with similar procedure in the people.
Could only be that one or the other in Berlin for insight still needs a bit - and it is better to let the GroKo so long to work through.
Short check, what is on the list.
- A minimum wage of twelve euros per hour? It would be difficult for some companies at first sight. But this is nothing that should cause panic before the onset of socialism. Especially since that is less than just Boris Johnson proposes for Britain - and that is at least not a left-wing spinner. That such a minimum wage per se destroys many jobs, anyway belongs to the inglorious false warnings of conventional economists. (Read an analysis of the economic policy ideas of the new duo here.)
- An investment program of 500 billion euros over ten years? Is just a touch above what the radical left-wing Federation of German Industry has suggested just over two weeks ago. And is about what many experts have been calling for years.
Really everyone wants to get away from black zero - except for the CDU
Stick to the black zero? Makes things worse in times of economic stress. In the meantime even the Orthodox German Council of Economic Experts admits. As well as the leading research institutes and the International Monetary Fund, the OECD, the European Commission, various Nobel laureates and (probably) all leading international experts. Only the CDU not.
Anyone who invests well, ie puts money into better schools or a better rail network, and currently does not even have to pay interest, will get the money sooner or later anyway with return - because there are cleverer students and more reliable rail services in the country. The alternative would be permanently poor railways and schools - which reduces the economic power and then leads to more debt. Of this, the oft-tried future generation has nothing.
- Higher taxes for top earners? A tax for people who have big fortunes? This, too, is a standard requirement of economists today, who are concerned with how dramatically income and wealth have drifted apart in many countries in recent decades. Moreover, it could also hit the nerve of many in the country rather than, say, the demand of the somewhat impoverished FDP, now again to relieve peak earners. Those who already count among the biggest winners of the past years of growth.
- The list can be continued. A tightening of the climate package with higher CO2 prices while relieving consumers of climate premiums? Is already practiced in real existing communism, ie in Switzerland. And has become the standard demand of leading climate experts since the French Yellow-West protests at the latest.
- And that the federal government should financially relieve the municipalities? You also read every day.
The bright excitement over what is called such a dreadful thing seems a bit as if the SPD is in full bloom after 21 grand years with Schröder and his renouncement for wealth agenda - and suddenly there are two without any discernible Reason with completely crazy ideas away from the course. The truth is not correctly described - neither in terms of the situation of the SPD nor the situation and mood in the country.
As a reminder, we are living in 2019. And the SPD has experienced an unprecedented crash since the Agenda reforms - like almost all the more social-democratic parties that have tried something similar in Italy or France. And probably not despite, but because of the agenda (side effects).
If polls say today 80 percent of people in the country say that inequality of income and wealth becomes a threat to the cohesion of society, then it is not leftist thinking to worry about how that inequality could be reduced again. Whether through taxes or minimum wages - or that the state is again stronger to ensure that collective agreements are respected. What is best there is still to be clarified. No longer the need for themselves.
Above all, the convincing story, the slogan, is missing
If today almost 60 percent say that in Germany the promise of social compensation is no longer honored, one can blaspheme it - but that does not change the findings of an apparently deep crisis of confidence. What could also be a long-term succession of oops reforms, such as the fact that even long-time employees have crashed on Hartz IV after one year, when they become unemployed.
Then the restoration of the faith may be even more urgent for the economy than any classical economic policy. And then at least one should think again about whether it is not better to link the duration of unemployment benefits to working life. Another such supposedly crazy demand.
All this does not mean that any claim of the designated new SPD leadership is great. There is still potential. Likewise with the personnel. And above all there is a lack of convincing narrative, the slogan that a new policy needs. However, what is required is closer to what is urgently needed in the country in the coming years than anything that scoffers and former chancellors still carry on with old dogmas.
What that means? That it would be too early to risk the big turn with this duo. Especially since there has long been an openness in the GroKo for a departure from old dogmas. That would speak in favor of GroKo as not so bad transition assistance continue - and be it lack of ready-made alternatives (which not only in the SPD does not exist). And to give the executives in the SPD and others some more time to turn some ideas that are not really crazy into a really good program for this, our time.