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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.

KNOWLEDGE BASE
REDEFINING
THE ROLE OF
THE STATE

The Challenge

Decaying infrastructure and a lack of investment in education and innovation expose the weaknesses of an overly market-driven paradigm.

What went wrong

Reducing the role of the state in the economy was seen as the best way to ensure high levels of growth.

New Economy in Progress

The challenges of our time require us to rethink the role of the state and the need for a more active fiscal policy.

5 POSSIBLE WAYS THAT ARE DISCUSSED TO REDEFINE THE ROLE OF THE STATE

1

Boost investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure. This could more than pay for itself.

2

Use fiscal policy as a tool for macroeconomic stabilization and to boost economic activity.

3

Use of state as an entrepreneurial actor, investing in and deploying new technologies.

4

Central banks could distribute money directly to citizens in an attempt to boost consumer confidence and consumption.

5

Demonstrate the indispensability of the state by tackling monopolistic capitalism.

THE STEEP DECLINE IN NET PUBLIC INVESTMENT

NEW ECONOMY SHORT CUT 24 August 2021

Would a wealth tax really reduce inequality?

THE STATE 29 OCTOBER 2021

New Paradigm Knowledge Base – Update on the role of the state

What role should the state play in innovation policy? How can the infrastructure investments needed for climate protection be financed by the state? Does a socially acceptable implementation of the Green New Deal require the EU to relax its debt rules?

THE STATE 29 SEPTEMBER 2021

Election analysis: Scholz’s respect formula appealed to voters

Election narratives of the SPD candidate for chancellor with very high approval ratings among the population / Core statements in the CDU program significantly less popular / Analysis of a Civey survey commissioned by the Forum New Economy

THE STATE 29 SEPTEMBER 2021

Agenda for Germany's future finance minister

Fiscal policy trade-offs will be a key issue in Germany's coalition negotiations. From debt brakes to climate investments, what's facing the next government? That was the main question of a panel organized by NEF and Forum New Economy.

NEW ECONOMY SHORT CUT 16 September 2021

Rethinking the state

NEW ECONOMY SHORT CUT 8 September 2021

Do we have to reform the debt brake?

NEW ECONOMY SHORT CUT 23 August 2021

Using Nation Wide Rent Caps to Combat the Housing Crisis?

NEW ECONOMY SHORT CUT 26 August 2021

Do tax cuts on credit end up financing themselves?

21 JULY 2021

The disenchanted state

THE STATE 1 JULY 2021

How much debt is too much?

In light of record levels of public debt, the question of how much debt is too much debt is on the table. Four economists have now discussed this question in a panel discussion.

THE STATE 22 JUNE 2021

“Trickle-down economics has never worked.”

US president Joe Biden calls to build the US economy from the middle and bottom up – a clear opposition to tax cuts for corporations and the rich.

THE STATE 18 JUNE 2021

How German companies feel about key election issues - A mood survey

How do German companies view key campaign issues such as industrial and climate policy shortly before the election? Deutsche Bank surveyed 200 companies on this issue - with surprisingly heterogeneous results.

OTHER 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.

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.

Corona Crisis

CORONA CRISIS

The current Corona crisis is probably the worst economic crisis of the post-World War 2 era. Economists are working hard on mitigating the economic effects caused by COVID-19 to prevent a second Great Depression, the break-up of the Eurozone and the end of globalisation. We collect the most important contributions.