According to newspaper reports, 22 prominent economists filed a joint appeal to halt the federal government’s pension package. Among the signatories of the paper entitled “Withdrawal of the pension package” are the chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Ministry of Finance of SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, Jörg Rocholl, such as Handelsblatt reported.
“For stability, reliability and confidence, pension policies are needed that are predictable and fiscally sustainable,” the newspaper quoted the call, which will be published on Monday, as saying. “The federal government’s planned pension package, consisting of pension level maintenance, maternal pension, active pension and early retirement pathways, fails to achieve this goal.”
Economists warn of significant pressure on public finances
In a guest article in the newspaper, Rocholl, along with two signatories to the agreement – ifo boss Clemens Fuest and the head of the Market Economy Foundation, Michael Eilfort – criticized the fact that the reform plans put huge pressure on public finances. “It would be fatal for confidence in politics if a decision were taken now, which would inevitably have drastic negative financial consequences in just a few years,” the economists lamented.
“As long as the concept of convincing reform and sustainable balance is still lacking, it is better to let the legal status quo prevail,” the economists continued. The Pensions Commission is a suitable framework for “embarking on sustainable fiscal reform”.
The coalition is currently fighting over a cabinet-approved pension package. Young Union MPs criticized the plan – also on the grounds of its financial viability. The Green Party announced that they would not agree to the government’s plan and put forward a counter proposal.
Scientists who signed the call against the pension package include current economists such as Monika Schnitzer, Veronika Grimm and Martin Werding as well as former members of the Advisory Council such as Lars Feld, Volker Wieland and Bert Rürup. According to the information, pension experts Axel Börsch-Supan and Bernd Raffelhüschen, the president of the Kiel IfW Institute, Moritz Schularick, and the former chairman of the Monopolies Commission, Justus Haucap, were also involved in the call.
