ZEW policy brief Published - Challenges for the German Economic and Financial Policy in the 2013-2017 Legislative Period

The new federal government will be facing major economic policy challenges over the coming legislative period. On this occasion, ZEW researchers developed recommendations for an economic policy agenda in the next four years. The proposals focus on policy fields related to ZEW’s research areas and advisory expertise. ZEW’s recommendations include proposals for the institutional framework of a European fiscal union, reform proposals for taxation rules within the European Single Market, as well as paths toward a simplified tax system in Germany. Addressing the objectives of a cost-efficient expansion of renewables and a stable power grid, suggestions are also made for a new electricity market design. ZEW’s paper draws attention to instruments to make the German innovation system fit for the future. Furthermore, recommendations address further structural reform on the German labour market, for example with respect to marginal employment or the qualification of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market.