Nationales Reformprogramm 2017
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National Reform Programme 2017 Imprint Publisher Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Public Relations Energy was awarded the audit berufundfamilie® 11019 Berlin, Germany for its family-friendly staff policy. The certificate www.bmwi.de is granted by berufundfamilie gGmbH, an initia- tive of the Hertie Foundation. Redaktion Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) Design and production PRpetuum GmbH, Munich Status April 2017 This publication as well as further publications Illustrations can be obtained from: StudioD3x – Digitalstock (Titel) Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) This brochure is published as part of the public relations Public Relations work of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. E-mail: [email protected] It is distributed free of charge and is not intended for sale. www.bmwi.de The distribution of this brochure at campaign events or at information stands run by political parties is prohibited, Central procurement service: and political party-related information or advertising shall Tel.: +49 30 182722721 not be inserted in, printed on, or affixed to this publication. Fax: +49 30 18102722721 National Reform Programme 2017 Contents Introduction . 4 I . Macroeconomic context . 6 A . Macroeconomic development . 6 B . The German current account surplus . 8 Structural determinants of the German current account...........................................................................................................................................9 Spillover effects of public investment on the eurozone are limited . 10 II . Actions to tackle primary macroeconomic challenges . 14 A . Strengthening public investment at all levels . 14 Investment strategy ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Strengthening public investment in infrastructure, education, research and innovation .............................................................14 Enabling Länder and municipalities to undertake more investment . .17 Restructuring of fiscal relations between the Federation and the Länder ...................................................................................................... 17 Securing sound government finances, investing in the future . 18 Strengthening investment in Europe ......................................................................................................................................................................................18 B . Strengthening private investment, stimulating competition further . 18 A more efficient tax system for stronger private investmentn ............................................................................................................................19 Bureaucracy reduction, comprehensive modernisation of procurement law ........................................................................................20 Making the energy transition investment-friendly......................................................................................................................................................21 Strengthening competition further ..........................................................................................................................................................................................21 Action to further stimulate competition in the services sector ..........................................................................................................................22 C . Increasing incentives for labour force participation, ensuring the best possible integration of refugees into the labour market . 23 Creating incentives for later retirement................................................................................................................................................................................24 Strengthening incentives to work for second earners ................................................................................................................................................25 Reducing the tax and contribution burden particularly for low-wage earners ......................................................................................26 Further reduction in non-standard employment – facilitating the transition from mini-jobs to standard employment relationships ........................................................................................................................................................................................27 Proceeding swiftly with the labour market integration of refugees ...............................................................................................................29 III . Europe 2020 headline targets: progress to date and measures . 33 A . Fostering employment . 33 Strengthening the framework for labour participation . 33 Increasing the skills pool: vocational training, education and immigration of skilled workers.................................................35 In the interest of fairer wages ........................................................................................................................................................................................................36 B . Improving the conditions for innovation, research and development . 37 The Federal Government’s strategy for research and innovation......................................................................................................................38 Promotion of research and innovation by the Federation and the Länder.................................................................................................... 38 Taking advantage of the opportunities of the digital transformation............................................................................................................39 C . Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy from renewables and improving energy and resource efficiency . 40 Meeting climate targets ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................40 Renewable energy: strengthening competition, improving the system.......................................................................................................41 Increasing efficiency, reducing energy and resource consumption .................................................................................................................42 D . Improving education levels . 43 E . Promoting social inclusion in particular by reducing poverty . 44 Promoting integration into the labour market and society ...................................................................................................................................45 Strengthening social participation for the elderly .......................................................................................................................................................46 Combating scarcity on the housing markets ....................................................................................................................................................................47 IV . Drafting the NRP 2017: process and stakeholders . 49 Table I: Actions to tackle primary macro economic challenges . 50 Table II: Actions to deliver on the national goals within the context of the Europe 2020 strategy . 61 List of diagrams Diagram 1: Wage development in Germany (percentage change on previous year, forecast for 2017/18) ...........................................11 Diagram 2: Development of the wage share (in %) . .11 Diagram 3: Cross-country comparison of spillover effects and capacity utilisation ..............................................................................................13 Diagram 4: Development of the unemployment rate (percentage, national definition) and of gainfully active persons (in millions) .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Diagram 5: Employment rates in Germany and the European Union . 25 Diagram 6: Annual median equally-funded social security contribution rates as a percentage of gross assessable earnings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26 Diagram 7: Core working population disaggregated by form of employment: standard employment relationships and non-standard employment ....................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Diagram 8: Core working population: development in the forms of non-standard employment..............................................................28 Diagram 9: First applications for asylum, decisions on such applications and EASY registrations ............................................................30