How Germany Masters the Economic Transition

On 20 March 2024, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner welcomed ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach to Berlin for an in-depth discussion about the future of the German economy. Representatives from science and politics came together for an exchange as part of the event series “Economic Dialogue – New Dynamics”, which attracted around 200 participants in person and reached approximately 6,100 more via livestream. At its core, the Federal Ministry of Finance aimed to collaboratively chart paths towards a successful economic transition. Achim Wambach’s analysis of the current economic landscape in Germany and Europe provided valuable evidence-based insights to the discussion.

In his presentation on “Paths to a New Economic Dynamic”, the ZEW President highlighted various key factors to strengthen Germany’s position in the global economy. He emphasised the urgent need for a successful green economic transition to meet ecological challenges while simultaneously unlocking innovative business fields. He also stressed the importance of geo-economics aimed at achieving strategic autonomy to reduce dependence on external resources and ensure national security. Additionally, he underscored the importance of positioning Germany as an attractive destination for investment and qualified workers by creating incentives that promote innovation and growth. Finally, he called for a forward-looking budgetary approach to enable long-term investment in areas such as education, research and infrastructure, laying the foundations for sustainable growth and competitiveness.