Bureaucracy in social law - reasons and solutions.
The ongoing debates about reducing bureaucracy make it clear how much bureaucratic burdens characterise the everyday lives of citizens and companies, but also the public administration itself. Bureaucratic hurdles can have far-reaching consequences, particularly in social law and the granting of social benefits. In a current IAW article, the reasons for the complexity of this problem and various approaches to reducing bureaucracy in social law, some of which have already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented, are outlined.
Workplaces must be adapted to the needs of older employees.
In order to enable people to work longer and avoid unemployment, jobs and labour promotion must be adapted to the needs of older employees and the unemployed. To this end, for example, health promotion should be improved within the framework of SGB II (citizens' benefits) and SGB III (labour promotion). There should be labour market programmes specifically for older employees in order to avoid or at least shorten periods of unemployment in the transition to retirement.
At the 53rd top-level meeting on the training situation, the members of the Baden-Württemberg Training Alliance in Stuttgart discussed the current challenges on the training market in the state. The IAW short report ‘Company-based training in Baden-Württemberg 2023’ (in German) was published in connection with this.
For the IAW research focus “Labor Markets and Social Security” we are looking for a full-time or part-time (at least 50%) research assistant (m/f/d) to assist with statistical studies as soon as possible.
IAW mourns the loss of its honorary member, former German President Professor Dr. Horst Köhler.
The IAW mourns the loss of its honorary member, former German President Professor Dr. Horst Köhler, who passed away on February 1, 2025 at the age of 81.
Horst Köhler was a research assistant at the IAW from 1969 to 1976, during which time he wrote his dissertation entitled “Release of labor through technical progress”. The fact that he worked on a topic whose topicality is still unbroken shows his foresight, which went far beyond the technical perspective. In many of his later professional positions in federal ministries, at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and at the International Monetary Fund, he bore responsibility at a critical time. He was President of the Federal Republic of Germany from July 1, 2004 to May 31, 2010.
Time and again, he provided the IAW with advice and support. He had been a personal member of the association since 1999 and became an honorary member of the IAW e.V. in 2003, the same year the University of Tübingen made him an honorary professor. His speech to mark the 50th anniversary of the IAW in 2007 is a lasting memory. After his term in office as Federal President, he turned his attention to the importance of Africa for the European economy and foreign policy - again a topic whose long-term significance few recognized as clearly as he did. The IAW owes him a great debt of gratitude for his initiatives and many connections.
The IAW will always remember its honorary member and continue his work in his spirit. Our thoughts are with his family.
Potential in the transition area: opportunities for young talent and companies.
A recent short study by the IMPULS Foundation of the VDMA examines the potential of the transitional area between school and work to alleviate the shortage of skilled labour in mechanical and plant engineering. The analysis carried out by the IAW shows that many young people in the transitional area are basically suitable for training. Targeted support and awareness-raising could attract them to careers in mechanical and plant engineering.
As a result of the weak growth of the official economy and increasing unemployment, the shadow economy in Germany will continue to rise in 2025. The avoidance of cold progression and the relatively small increase in the minimum wage counteract this trend, but can only slow it down slightly. According to the forecast, the size of the shadow economy will increase in nominal terms to 511 billion euros, which is an increase of 6.1 % compared to the previous year. Adjusted for prices, the increase is 3.8 %. The ratio of the forecast shadow economy to measured gross domestic product (GDP) will increase to 11.5 per cent.
