Finanzpolitische Entwicklungstendenzen und Perspektiven des Öffentlichen Dienstes in Deutschland

Dieter Vesper

No 25-2012, IMK Studies from IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute

Abstract: After Germany`s unification massive job cuts have been done in the public sector. This was due to the surplus staff in the eastern German states and municipalities, the "peace dividend" in the military sector and the continuing tight financial situation at all levels of government. This fiscal stress was caused partly by the weak economic development, partly by the restrictions in the wake of the "Maastricht", but mainly by extensive tax cuts. The comparatively low wage settlements in public services could not stop job cuts. The decline in staff development was mitigated by a strong increase in part-time employment. The downsizing of public services was accompanied by a striking deterioration in the aging of the public workforce.The widespread prejudice of inflated public services can not be sustained. Comparing the level of state administration in Germany and in other European countries, Germany ranks in the average or below average. If, however, the German education system in international comparison has received always bad grades, it is also due to the fact that staffing at the schools is below average.Particular attention was paid to the investigation to the development in Germany`s states, because the personnel policy is one of the few parameters that can be controlled by the countries politically. All in all, it is certainly one - identify different mode of reaction of the countries - depending on the financial situation.In the next few years, a high replacement in Germany's public services is needed. This is due to aging. Up to 140 000 employees per year, this is 3% of all public staff, have to be replaced. But not only this replacement demand has to be taken into account, also additional jobs have to be created, most of them in the educational sector, but also in the public safety and in the tax administration, all in all nearly 100,000 full-time jobs. Their funding could be ensured if the policymakers would abandon the planned tax cuts.

Pages: 52 pages
Date: 2012
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