debt brake

Following the election on Sunday, a new coalition needs to be formed as soon as possible. The next government has to act quickly to address Germany's economic and geopolitical challenges.

Entrepreneur and consultant Harald Christ wants the next coalition government in Berlin to think creatively about new approaches to Germany's economic future. A large part of the huge investments needed should come from private capital – but nonetheless he supports reform of the debt brake.

The German debt brake ensures budgetary discipline. But in the current global environment, a special fund needs to be set up to strengthen Germany's growth potential, and tackle challenges such as digitalisation and sustainability.

The director of the Vienna economic research institute Wifo, Gabriel Felbermayr, talks about the danger of ever-increasing national debt, the design of the debt brake and possible ways out of over-indebtedness situations.