In his keynote speech, Professor Sebastian Dullien discussed whether the federal government has the right answers for the Zeitenwende

Instead, it is geopolitical and geoeconomic pressures that have caused the economy to slip into stagnation—or, at best, very slow economic growth—since the onset of the pandemic. In light of this, the current reforms—which are intended to increase labour productivity and reduce costs—miss the point. They primarily risk further curbing crucial private consumption. He therefore strongly advocates avoiding measures that deliberately undermine the welfare state. Instead, he calls for a change in economic policy that actively shapes industrial policies and makes use of the opportunities created by the federal government’s investment programme.

Held in Erfurt’s historic City Hall Ballroom, the keynote address sparked a lively discussion on the policy strategies Germany and Europe need to ensure their long-term economic viability. Once again, these discussions highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between scientific analysis and public debate on the crucial challenges of our time, and of facilitating dialogue between academia and society through platforms such as Professor Dullien’s keynote lecture at this year’s Science Forum.

The event was supported by the Hans Böckler Foundation and the Thüringer Aufbaubank.