Financially weak people in particular suffer from the ever-increasing energy prices.
Now the ifo Institute is calling for relief for low-wage earners and Hartz IV recipients.
Munich - In view of the high gasoline prices, the Ifo Institute is promoting additional relief, but not through a higher commuter allowance.
Instead, ifo President Clemens Fuest spoke out in the Düsseldorfer
Handelsblatt
on Thursday for targeted help for low-wage earners.
"There is a need for political action if vulnerable groups are overwhelmed by the rising prices, for example Hartz IV recipients."
Ifo President: Increasing the commuter allowance is not a solution
On the other hand, an increase in the commuter allowance would "cause errors and relieve many people who do not really need this relief," warned Fuest.
Insofar as the higher prices are caused by the rising CO2 price, which is only one of several effects, the economic expert pointed out that precisely this was "a necessary control towards climate goals".
"These price effects have to get through to the economy, even if they are inconvenient."
Because of the high petrol prices, political calls for relief for commuters have become loud, for example through a higher commuter allowance or tax relief.
Only low-wage earners should be relieved
In this sense,
the CDU European politician Dennis Radtke
expressed himself in the
Handelsblatt
.
Like Fuest, the head of the SPD workers' wing, Klaus Barthel, advertised in the newspaper for compensation for those on lower and middle incomes.
But he also warned of relief for "large consumers with swimming pools, private planes and SUVs".
The Federal Environment Agency, on the other hand, recently called for a further increase in fuel prices in order to promote climate protection.
"Even if fuel prices are currently very high, the prices for gasoline and diesel do not tell the ecological truth," said Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency.
But the project should not be carried out at the expense of the socially disadvantaged.
“From a climate and environmental protection point of view, it makes sense to further increase the CO2 price.
And this is also possible in a socially acceptable way if the state uses the additional income from CO2 pricing to significantly reduce the EEG surcharge and at the same time promote climate-friendly drive technologies. "
(AFP / dpa)
