Online trading in particular is in a crisis, which is particularly beneficial for large providers such as Amazon, said Greens MPs. They want to boost demand from local dealers.
Berlin (dpa) - To support the retail trade in the Corona crisis, Greens politicians are demanding a "purchase-on-site voucher" for every citizen in the amount of 250 euros.
The voucher should only be redeemable in brick-and-mortar retail, for brick-and-mortar services or in the catering trade, according to a position paper presented by Greens in the Bundestag on Saturday. The "Spiegel" had previously reported about it. The voucher should only be redeemable in stores that were affected by the shutdown - not in the grocery and drug stores.
As soon as the health policy situation allows, a targeted instrument is needed to boost demand in local trade, the paper says. It comes from the group leader Anton Hofreiter and the deputies Katharina Dröge, Oliver Krischer, Claudia Müller and Daniela Wagner. The voucher should be valid for one year and should not be used in online trading.
In the Corona crisis, most stores were closed for weeks, but small and medium-sized stores are now allowed to reopen, just like bookstores or car dealers. The idea of a voucher is not new, and economists had also spoken in favor of it, just like the textile and fashion industry.
"Especially in the local retail trade there is a risk of bankruptcy. There is a fear that the inner cities will become deserted," warned Hofreiter. "If we don't act, only the strong, only the big online chains will be left." The vouchers are targeted and socially just - while a reduction in income tax prefers the wealthy and brings nothing to those who have lost their jobs.
The President of the German Trade Association (HDE), Josef Sanktjohanser, said that there should be no one-sided support only for selected sectors of the economy. If, for example, scrapping premiums are now being discussed for the auto industry, "then logically, consumer vouchers must also be considered to boost consumption". Whether direct aid, rescue packages or deferral of social benefits - the whole thing must always be kept in mind, he told the "world".
The federal government had announced stimulus measures to stimulate demand if restrictions were further relaxed. Many companies are heavily burdened. We are talking about moving the billion-dollar partial elimination off to summer.
"In contrast to tax cuts, such as the abolition of the solidarity contribution, the on-site voucher is more effective, targeted and socially fair," says the Greens paper. In addition to vouchers, the Greens are proposing a fund of around 500 million euros to improve the infrastructure of town centers and city centers. Even if government aid could cushion some of the damage, the situation for retailers, restaurants, hairdressers and other service providers is precarious. "If political countermeasures are not taken now, inner cities will become deserted and village centers will become extinct."
Although some local retailers could have cushioned the negative effects of the crisis somewhat via online platforms, the majority of the increase in demand in online retail benefits the large platforms such as Amazon. The e-commerce giant is likely to further increase its market share due to the corona crisis and oust smaller retailers in city centers if they do not receive any support.