Volker Wieland: "It's time for a cash check" (Neue Zürcher Zeitung)

"With higher interest rates, it is once again becoming clear that government debt is costly," said Wieland. It is therefore important to set limits to the increase in debt. In the short term, there are always interests in spending more money than there is revenue available. "Increasing revenue or reducing other expenditure for this reason is unpopular, it is easier to incur debt."

The debt brake had worked and had a stabilizing effect. Now the Federal Constitutional Court has "significantly tightened" the debt brake, said Wieland. This would not necessarily lead to an economic crisis.

According to Wieland, Germany rather needs a reform offensive. He pleads for:
▶ a rapid expansion of the energy supply
▶ a reduction in corporate taxes to an internationally competitive level,
▶ improvements within the education system,
▶ immigration of skilled workers in line with demand,
▶ the digitalization of administration and
▶ the reduction of regulation.
"In short, Germany does not need to soften the debt brake."

Neue Zürcher Zeitung: "Es ist Zeit für einen Kassensturz"