Quick & New -
the New Economy Ticker
The latest news, debates, proposals and developments on new economic thinking at a glance.
Criticism of Merz’s pension proposal – including from the SPD – Article
Barbara Gillmann, Handelsblatt, February 3, 2026
The chancellor wants to strengthen private and occupational pensions in addition to statutory pension provision. This is provoking resistance from the Greens, the Left Party, trade unions – and also the SPD.
Dispute over social policy: Is this an agenda for the “super-privileged”? – Article
Roland Preuß, SZ, February 1, 2026
Paying dental bills privately, shorter unemployment benefits? The CDU is wrestling with possible cuts to social benefits. The chairman of the CDU’s employee wing sharply criticizes the Economic Council.
What are the benefits of a wealth tax? – Article
Jurik Caspar Iser, ZEIT, February 6, 2026
Proponents of a wealth tax hope it could increase government revenue and combat inequality. A new study shows whether this can work.
More people in Germany at risk of poverty – Article
FAZ, February 3, 2026
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the proportion of people at risk of poverty in Germany has risen from 15.5 to 16.1 percent. Who is particularly affected?
Will the debt commission fail? – Article (Paywall)
Johannes Pennekamp, Manfred Schäfers, FAZ, February 2, 2026
A commission of experts is tasked with modernizing the debt rule. But the members’ positions are far apart – even failure is not ruled out. Who wants what?
Record complaints despite record profits: European banks on the wrong track – Commentary
Michael Peters, Frankfurter Rundschau, February 2, 2026
Donald Trump is deregulating his banks. The European banking sector is following suit. But the call for deregulation is dangerous. The “Gastwirtschaft” column by Michael Peters.
Middle powers may miss the global order more than they think – Commentary (Paywall)
Martin Sandbu, Financial Times, 25.01.2026
Even if you are not interested in the superpowers, they will sooner or later be interested in you.
When financial investors sit at the nursing bedside – Article (Paywall)
An article by Jorim Gerrard and Uwe Zöllner, Makronom, 26.01.2026
The healthcare sector is increasingly coming under the influence of private equity – with serious consequences for nursing care, medical care and quality.
Why so many people work part-time – Article (Paywall)
Alexander Hagelüken, Oliver Klasen and Nakissa Salavati, SZ, 26.01.2026
Twenty-nine per cent of the working population in Germany does not work full-time. Why is this the case, what rules apply and how does the CDU’s economic wing want to tighten them? The most important questions and answers.
‘The rich have too much power in Germany’ – Interview (Paywall)
Interview by Alexander Hagelüken, SZ, 26.01.2026
Economist Miriam Rehm on spurious arguments against inheritance tax, misguided privatisation and the influence of the super-rich, such as Elon Musk.
Economist Gabriel Zucman calls for action against the wealthy – Article
Michael Hesse, Frankfurter Rundschau, 27.01.2026
French economist Gabriel Zucman demonstrates how to tax the wealthy.
Will this be the most significant welfare state reform since Agenda 2010? – Article (Paywall)
An analysis by Tina Groll, DIE ZEIT, 27.01.2026
More digital, simpler, clearer: a commission was supposed to herald a radical restructuring of the welfare state. But many of the proposals are neither new nor quickly implementable.
The investment minister’s faltering investment offensive – Article (Paywall)
Martin Greive, Handelsblatt, 23.01.2026
Last year, €30 billion in investments remained unspent, meaning that 25 per cent of all funds were not utilised. Finance Minister Klingbeil has fallen well short of his own target.
Germany is underperforming economically – Article (Paywall)
Michael Bauchmüller, SZ, 28.01.2026
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche presents her first annual economic report. She uses it primarily to call for reforms – because she is not satisfied with the modest growth.
Is liberal democracy in terminal decline? – Opinion (Paywall)
John Burn-Murdoch, Financial Times, 23.01.2026
The old system worked under a set of conditions that are no longer present.
Economic institute proposes abolishing tax privileges – Article
ZEIT, 21 January 2026
The DIW institute has developed a concept for inheritance tax reform. According to this concept, the tax burden should be redistributed and the number of taxpayers halved.
The real lines of conflict in pension policy – Article (Paywall)
Camille Logeay & Florian Blank, Makronom, 19 January 2026
The pension issue tempts us to interpret debates through the lens of ‘young and old’. But the central conflicts lie elsewhere. An article by Camille Logeay and Florian Blank.
The F-bomb – Article (Paywall)
Heike Buchter, DIE ZEIT, 20 January 2026
Europe holds US government bonds worth eight trillion US dollars. Should European investors sell off US securities to harm the US?
A ‘trade bazooka’, tariffs and a World Cup boycott: How Europe can hit back at Trump over Greenland – Article
Craig Hoyle, The Independent, 21.01.2026
European leaders have made bullish comments in response to Trump’s latest tariff threats. But economists tell Craig Hoyle that an extended trade war would be a ‘worst-case scenario’.
The smiling third party – Article (Paywall)
Heike Buchter, Max Hägler, Uwe Jean Heuser and Marlies Uken, DIE ZEIT, 21 January 2026
Europeans and Americans are arguing in Davos. Meanwhile, Beijing is quietly expanding its power – and presenting itself as a new partner.
‘If we accept this, we will look ridiculous’ – Interview
Kirsten Ludowig, Handelsblatt, 20 January 2026
Economist Jens Südekum believes the EU has a duty to defend itself against Trump’s new tariff threats. Europe must finally play to its economic strengths, demands Klingbeil’s chief advisor.
World leaders in Davos must stand up to Trump. This is their chance. – Commentary
Robert Reich, The Guardian, 21.01.2026
The world needs global leaders to clearly and firmly denounce the havoc Trump is wreaking on the US and international order.
“Those who are extremely wealthy should pay a minimum tax every year” – Interview (Paywall)
Interview by Sven Prange, Handelsblatt, 13.01.2026
Economist Gabriel Zucman defends his idea of a flat tax for the super-rich. A conversation about oligarchs, billionaires, and why he would not spare family businesses either.
One million euros, tax-free – Article (Paywall)
Commentary by Jens Tönnesmann, DIE ZEIT, 14.01.2026
The SPD wants to relieve many heirs of their tax burden and instead ask people who receive even larger fortunes to pay up. The plan has outraged many entrepreneurs, but it has opened up an important debate.
Social mobility has never been easy in Germany. But it is becoming even more difficult – Article (Paywall)
Christian Endt and Kirk Jackson, DIE ZEIT, 11.01.2026
Equal opportunities for all? Not a chance. New data shows that social mobility is less common today than it was in the 1970s. This is partly due to the success of the middle class.
Joseph E. Stiglitz: “There should have been a major crash long ago” – Interview (Paywall)
Interview by Astrid Dörner and Jens Münchrath, Handelsblatt, 15.01.2026
The Nobel Prize-winning economist believes that the financial markets are completely underestimating the risks of the Trump revolution – and sees a post-American global economy looming.
The Revenge of Global Imbalances – Article (Paywall)
Barry Eichengreen, Project Syndicate, 12.01.2026
Under France’s presidency of the G7, the club of rich countries will focus on major economies’ external deficits and surpluses. While the agenda makes sense politically, the economic case remains to be made.
How the West fell behind in the green tech race – Article (Paywall)
Rachel Millard, Alice Hancock, Nic Fildes, Financial Times, 13.01.2026
European companies pioneered much of the technology used in renewables, but have they left it too late to compete with China?
Government fails on social climate protection – Article
Elena Kolb, CORRECTIV, 14.01.2026
It had long been clear that the price of CO₂ would rise at the beginning of January. Nevertheless, the government’s plans for social compensation are full of holes. It removed climate funding from its plans, missed a deadline for social climate protection, and is distributing billions without a social focus.
The Post-Neoliberal Consensus Is Here – Commentary (Paywall)
Dani Rodrik, Project Syndicate, 16.12.2025
The best that can be said of Trump’s approach to the economy is that it is an experimental phase in the post-neoliberal transition. The good news is that future policymakers will not have to look far for new guiding principles.
Don’t be fooled — everything has changed for the global economy – Opinion (Paywall)
Gita Gopinath, Financial Times, 07.01.2026
Damage caused by US tariffs has so far been muted but that won’t last.
Sven Beckert’s Chronicle of Capitalism’s Long Rise – Article
Nelson Lichtenstein, Jacobin, 12.04.2025
Capitalism is a global economic system, so a proper chronicle of its rise to dominance has to examine the entire world, as historian Sven Beckert does in his massive new book, Capitalism: A Global History.
Saving democracy depends on restructuring the economy – Interview (Paywall)
Interview by Matthias Ubl, Surplus Magazine, January 6, 2026
Ricarda Lang and Steffen Mau talk in an interview about urgent economic measures, the policies of the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition, and saving democracy.
Trust means relinquishing control – Article (Paywall)
Armin Nassehi, DIE ZEIT, 06.01.2026
The AfD could be successful in 2026. As a protest party? That would be far too rational a way of thinking. Those who vote for them want to provoke. The antidote: trust.
Why we should know what we don’t know – Opinion (Paywall)
Gillian Tett, Financial Times, 02.01.2026
Cognitive blind spots are undermining our ability to see the world as it is, rather than as we would like it to be.
Global minimum tax is coming – but not for US corporations – Article
Manager Magazine, 06.01.2026
145 countries have agreed on a change to the global minimum tax agreement. This gives US corporations special privileges. US Treasury Secretary Bessent calls it a “historic victory.” Now resistance is stirring.
OUR MAIN TOPICS
New Paradigm
NEW PARADIGM
After decades of overly naive market belief, we urgently need new answers to the great challenges of our time. More so, we need a whole new paradigm to guide us. We collect everything about the people and the community who are dealing with the question of a new paradigm and who analyze the historical and present impact of paradigms and narratives – whether in new contributions, performances, books and events.
Redefining
the role of
the state
REDEFINING
THE ROLE OF
THE STATE
For decades, there was a consensus that reducing the role of the state and cutting public debt would generate wealth. This contributed to a chronic underinvestment in education and public infrastructure. New research focuses on establishing when and how governments need to intervene to better contribute to long-term prosperity and to stabilize rather than aggravate economic fluctuations.
Remaking
finance
REMAKING
FINANCE
More than a decade after the financial crisis there still seems to be something seriously wrong with the financial system. Financial markets still tend to periodically misprice risk and contribute to boom and bust cycles. A better financial system needs to discourage short-termism and speculative activity, curtail systemic risk and distribute wealth more broadly.
Greening
prosperity
GREENING
PROSPERITY
During the high point of market orthodoxy, economists argued that the most 'efficient' way to combat climate change was to simply let markets determine the price of carbon emissions. Today, there is a growing consensus that prices need to be regulated and that a carbon price on its own might not be enough.
Reducing
inequality
REDUCING
INEQUALITY
The rising gap between rich and poor has become a threat to social cohesion in most rich countries. To reverse this trend it will be crucial to better understand the importance of different drivers of income and wealth inequality.
Innovation Lab
INNOVATION LAB
Do we need a whole new understanding of economic growth? What would be a real alternative? How viable are alternatives to GDP when it comes to measuring prosperity? These and other more fundamental challenges are what this section is about.
Globalization
for all
GLOBALIZATION
FOR ALL
After three decades of poorly managed integration, globalization is threatened by social discontent and the rise of populist forces. A new paradigm will need better ways not only to compensate the groups that have lost, but to distribute the gains more broadly from the start.
Europe
beyond markets
EUROPE
BEYOND MARKETS
The euro was planned during a period in which economic policy making was driven by a deep belief in market liberalism and the near impossibility of systemic financial crises. This belief has been brought into question since the euro crisis, which showed that panics do happen. New thinking needs to focus on developing mechanisms to protect eurozone countries from such panics and to foster economic convergence between members.