National industrial strategy : Peter Altmaiers search of the social market economy

In many Parts reads the speech Peter Altmaier on Tuesday its National industry strategy to 2030, presented as an apology. An apology to the economy, and political principles of the Federal Republic of Germany. "I am a staunch supporter of the market economy", - assured the Federal Minister for economic Affairs. "And an admirer of Ludwig Erhard." However, the applicable conditions are no longer suitable from Altmaiers point of view to allow German companies on the world market – of which Germany depended. Just as the prosperity promise, the be 20. Predecessor, gave the Germans once, forcing him formally to draw the state into the field.

And this is what the CDU politician was right on two fronts, as in this week. Its own industry is because strategy, with which he wants to key sectors and companies, solid support. Companies like VW, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp and Deutsche Bank would be in order if their relevance for the business location, practically under state protection. Goal is the formation of so-called "Champions" that are large enough to take on the competition from China or the USA.

The other wants to reform Altmaier, head of the competition law of the EU. Because, just a day after the economy Minister had made his plans public, pushed by the EU-Commission of the formation of just such "Champions," a tie, by saying the merger of the Zugsparten of Siemens and Alstom. A decision Altmaier, "with all due respect" in the wrong place, as he explained with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire in a guest post for the daily mirror. Both announced until may to submit proposals, such as the competition law of the EU can be reformed, so as not to again be a major European group would be prevented.

And at the end of this week, that apparently not only the prosperity of the Federal Republic of Germany is at stake, but also the trust in the social market economy.

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On protectionism Altmaier responded with protectionism

Yes, the social market economy means that the state stays out of it, if it is not used, also admitted Altmaier on Tuesday. However, this is not currently the case. "There seems to be countries that believe that you can't operate the world trade only with market economic means," he explained. Instead, they tried to "protectionism, interventionism, and to create, through the Set of framework conditions in the economic area, the benefits are not available in the free play of forces perhaps, quite so easy."

It is no secret that Altmaier aims of this paraphrase is about China. Quite may surprise you, however, that the Minister of economic Affairs draws from this analysis clearly conclude that this distortion of competition is best meet with even more distortion. On protectionism, he wants answers by German companies under species protection, interventionism, intervenes in the EU law.

It took not long until the leading economists of the country Altmaiers criticized the plans sharp. Four of the five economy, the National industrial strategy for the designated point on Thursday in the "world" as "of great concern". "With China in a race to subsidy, regulation, protectionism and market interventions to get to your feet soon German' Champions, appears not very promising," write the Economics professors Isabel Schnabel, Christoph Schmidt, Volker Wieland, and Lars field.

The father of the social market economy: Ludwig Erhard, here as a figure of the concept artist Ottmar Hörl.Photo: picture alliance / Daniel Karman

the German Institute for economic research (DIW) believes the "policy plan economic industrial policy is on the wrong track". With his plans to change EU competition law, meets Altmaier, even when his own advisors. "When it is said that we should allow restrictions on Competition in Europe, so that European companies can compete on the world markets, would have the consequence that the European consumers have to pay more," said the head of the monopoly Commission, Achim Wambach, the daily mirror.

science calls for education policy and venture capital

all of the experts But in one point all agree: It is urgent that the future competitiveness of the German industry engaged in the public debate. Because in fact, there are enough signs that Germany "could become the workbench of the other", as Altmaier calls it. In the latest growth forecast of the EU Commission, Germany occupies the penultimate place. The Federal budget has a hole of 25 billion euros. And that US President Donald Trump breaks down the free trade, from which Germany benefited, in its individual parts, completes the picture, the one the Worries of the Minister of economy to understand.

But instead of the German economy, Altmaier your distrust. Because he considers Mega-mergers, as necessary, where they are currently banned, and that he provides state funding, where previously the market has decided whether assistance is worth it, no more shows, ultimately, that Altmaier of the German economy, rely on to create without the help of the innovations that are in demand on the world market. This pessimistic assessment of each does not share. EU competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager pointed out in its statement of the reasons why Siemens and Alstom are not allowed to join forces, also to the fact that both companies are already world leaders in their field.

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The economy will find ways, however, that a good physical infrastructure, a sustainable education would help policy and promotion of basic research of the German economy much more than regulatory intervention. On the occasion of the 70. Anniversary of the D-Mark called the President of DIW Berlin Marcel Fratzscher is already in the past summer, in addition, a better framework for the provision of risk capital and other investments. And he was clear that the social market economy, the "appropriate company contract". "More than ever."