This study aims to identify structural reforms in Germany in the period 2013 to 2017, including their origins, intended impact, and actual impact to date, as well as remaining reform needs. Structural reforms include all government policies and initiatives that aim at creating the right conditions for economic actors to increase the level of productivity of an economy in order to pave the way for higher growth, higher competitiveness and higher income in the future. The structural reforms to be analysed include national reforms aiming at improving the functioning of markets or the conditions for doing business. Reforms the sole purpose of which is to implement EU legislation fall outside the scope of this study.The study investigates five areas of structural reform in Germany:

• Policies and initiatives to strengthen private investment in research, development and innovation (R&D&I) as well as in digitalisation, which represents one of the leading current technological and economic trends and is becoming an increasingly important determinant for productivity growth.
• Policies and initiatives to stimulate private investment in infrastructure, including digital infrastructures (e.g. broadband), energy infrastructures (e.g. new high-voltage grids) and transport infrastructures (e.g. railways, PPP models for roads).
• Policies and initiatives to improve the general business environment, particularly with respect to taxation and general regulation of business activities.
• Policies and initiatives to promote E-government services and innovative public procurement.
• Policies and initiatives to support entrepreneurship.