The recent spate of bad economic news is akin to a freezing autumn rain ruining the end of a sunny late summer’s day. Bold optimism characterised the first half of 2014. The German economy seemed to be brimming…
Some 5.5 million youths under 25 are currently unemployed in the EU. While not a new problem, youth unemployment has become much more acute since the outbreak of the last economic crisis. Across the EU, youth…
Generating some 4.5 billion euros in revenues each year, Germany's inheritance tax is actually a small source of income for the state – revenues from taxes on tobacco, for example, are more than three times as…
"Bracket creep" is one of those dry topics that might well be of interest only to tax experts and economists. It refers to the increased tax burden that results when tax rates are not adjusted to reflect…
After 100 days of a new government in office, it is standard practice to look back on what has been achieved so far. How successful has Germany’s Grand Coalition of CDU and SPD been so far in terms of economic…
Confusion – that was the first effect of the decision by the German Constitutional Court on the OMT programme of the ECB. “Victory for the ECB” read the first headlines in the Financial Times. Initially it…
For years now, there has been intense discussion in Germany about the financial problems facing the public pension system due to population aging. Fewer and fewer contributors are paying into the pensions of…
With Christmas around the corner, who wants to think about cinching one's belt to reduce spending? We're much more inclined to think about Santa Claus, and the gifts he will bring. A little known variation of…
It is paradoxical. If we are to believe the opinion pollsters, then the poor election results for Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens are payback, at least in part, for their unpopular plans…
