Economic Turnaround, But How? – Results of a Survey on the Major Challenges for Germany

Whether on industrial policy, climate policy or issues of inequality and globalisation – which implementation politicians prefer often revolves around the question of what role the state and the economy, government and the market should play. The prevailing emphasis often changes over time. From the 1980s to the 2010s, both in practice and in the prevailing academic debate, there tended to be a strong reliance on free markets. Since the Great Financial Crisis, this was followed by a phase of correction in which government action began to play a greater role again – whether in the form of industrial policy or more strictly regulated financial markets. To what extent is this paradigmatic change reflected in public opinion in Germany? To what extent are former market-liberal guiding principles still anchored? And what new guiding principles are there? And what does this mean for the support or rejection of current policies in Germany – for active industrial policy, the reduction of inequality or climate policy?

As part of an extensive survey, the Forum New Economy, in collaboration with dpart, examined how people in Germany view major economic issues and the traction that once dominant market-liberal and potential new narratives have on these issues. This report analyzes the results of the representative survey conducted in the fall of 2024, summarized under six major theses. The results confirm a deep-seated and cross-party skepticism towards a self-regulating economy for the benefit of all. Conversely, there is no unequivocal call from Germans for the state to intervene.

*This is the third and most comprehensive part of the analyses; the first part presented selected initial results; the second part dealt with opinions on public debt and the role of the state.