Report of the Federal Government - Is life equally good everywhere? Traffic light sees progress
Robert Habeck displays his famous charts once again. The Federal Minister of Economics presents the "Equality Report 2024" and holds up one sheet after another. The message: Things are improving, economically weaker regions are catching up, living conditions in Germany are becoming more uniform. "The report tells a story of positive convergence towards the top," says the Green politician. On the other hand, the report also tells another story: that of dissatisfaction, grumbles, and future anxieties in the country.
The Federal Government has collected all imaginable data on more than 220 pages to identify differences and commonalities between city and countryside, between strong and weaker regions, between East and West. After all, the Constitution stipulates the "establishment of equivalent living conditions." In addition, 31,000 interviews were conducted to assess the situation from the perspective of the people themselves. Both together is "really significant" and "an excellent reading material for the summer holidays," says Habeck. "I truly consider this a decisive compendium on the question of how Germany is doing." It can also be used to recalibrate funding policy.
According to the government, progress is being made in 27 out of 38 categories
Economy, society, infrastructure, climate and environment: In these areas, the report compares 38 "equality indicators." This includes, for example, municipal tax revenue, unemployment rate, crime rate, birth rate and life expectancy, accessibility to the nearest supermarket, and the proportion of forested area in the total area of the 400 districts and city-free states.
In 27 of the 38 categories, the relationships are reportedly approaching parity, in four others, the trend is not clear. In seven categories, they are moving apart. This includes, for example, the proportion of specialists and experts among socially insured employees. The same goes for housing density, the ratio of children to kindergartens, the proportion of one-person households, and the aging population. Habeck emphasizes that demographic change is a major concern. In other words: Regions with shrinking populations face major challenges.
People have to put up with a lot despite this
In the survey part of the report, it becomes clear that people assess the situation differently and criticize infrastructure above all. "Only 44 percent of respondents rate transport connections and mobility offers as good, followed by the digital infrastructure with 38 percent," it says as an example. "In terms of the settlement and founding of new companies, only 35 percent of the interviewees rate the situation as good."
Furthermore, it goes on with the possibility of finding affordable housing: "More than eight out of ten interviewees find this very (42 percent) or rather (41 percent) difficult." In large cities, this is seen more critically than in more rural areas. And finally, the example of education and care: "Only 43 percent of the interviewees agree fully or rather that the quality of schools is good; only 39 percent agree fully or rather that the quality of childcare is good."
Mood is worse than the situation - or vice versa
Example childcare takes Habeck up to address the mood in the country. Again, he holds up a visual aid - the comparison between the actual childcare offer and satisfaction with the offer. This is evident in the fact that: While care is actually excellent in the eastern federal states, satisfaction is not as high in some regions. Conversely, the childcare offer in Bavaria is worse, but not everyone is unhappy.
"The situation is sometimes like this: We sometimes say that the mood is worse than the situation, which is true for a part. But sometimes the mood is better than the situation."
In the east, economic development is currently stronger than in the west, the Economic Minister points out. And yet, perceived reality can sometimes be different. "The report has no psychological part," says the Minister. He refers to historical experiences of structural change and job loss. His cabinet colleague, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, says: "People are tired of crises." No new insights there. The SPD politician holds firm: "Equal and worthy living conditions throughout Germany are decisive for social cohesion." That is true "home politics" for her.
Criticism is guaranteed
The opposition will not let the government's success stories a few weeks before the important state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg go unchallenged. "Despite all the beautiful words from Minister Habeck and Minister Faeser: The equality report of the Federal Government is no cause for joy, but should ring the alarm bells," comments the Links politician Heidi Reichinnek. And party founder Sahra Wagenknecht adds: "The equality report is the next slap in the face for the traffic light coalition. Housing, schools, traffic, health: Living conditions in the Federal Republic have perhaps never been as unequal as they are today."
- Robert Habeck, the Federal Minister of Economics, highlighted improvements in various economic indicators in Germany, as depicted in the "Equality Report 2024."
- The report revealed that progress is being made in 27 out of 38 categories, including economy, society, infrastructure, climate, and environment.
- Despite these advances, the survey part of the report indicated that people are dissatisfied with infrastructure, transportation connections, digital infrastructure, and the availability of affordable housing.
- Robert Habeck acknowledged that demographic change, such as a shrinking population, poses significant challenges for certain regions in Germany.
- Criticism towards the Federal Government's "Equality Report" was prompted by opposition politicians, who argued that the report does little to address the growing inequality in areas like housing, schools, and healthcare in Germany.
