Investments – Private participate: Yes or no? – Frankfurter Rundschau

April 13, 2015

The traffic on the bridge Schiersteiner rolled back, the damages were repaired temporarily. Photo: AP

The convened by Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel expert committee unanimously calls for more investment in infrastructure. When asked how they are financed, are the ghosts.

At least in the Rhine-Main area commuters can breathe once. On Monday they could for the first time in two months again go over the bridge Schiersteiner to work. For trucks, the central connection between Mainz and Wiesbaden, however, remains locked.

Every day playful Germany as its future, because it spends too little for the modernization of its location. Long detours are not just annoying, they also cost a lot of money, especially when it comes to transport essential commodities. Germany needs to invest more – in the federal government and most experts agree. And Germany may invest more. This means a committee of experts on Monday presented a concept for it on behalf of Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD). A ten-point plan to ensure that the rich West remains competitive.

At issue is a key task, said Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, who chaired the Commission. The infrastructure will be forfeited. Repairs and new construction are more expensive, the longer they are delaying. And when ready by demographic trends fewer workers, Germany can compensate for this if it improves its productivity even stronger. Scientists, entrepreneurs, representatives of local authorities and trade unions – – how Germany this central economic problem is best at

No longer agree, the experts. The majority of Fratzscher and German Bank CEO Jürgen Fitschen advocates to use private capital to finance highways about it. You will also want tax relief incentives set for investors to put their money on this so far predominantly publicly funded tasks. Although they emphasize that they are to fund the relief and do not want a tax cut bottom line.

But that’s not enough trade unionists to Reiner Hoffmann, Chairman of the German Trade Union Federation. In a dissenting opinion, they are against any form of privatization. “Public investment must be financed primarily by taxes,” she stressed. You think this is also the most economically viable way, so the cheapest option. Because the state could take out loans as low as never before. In addition, private investors are demanding a return when investing.

Ideal partners

“There must be a premium,” confirmed hinge plates. What is the round will be depended on the individual project. But deprive investors from the state risks. For Fitschen insurance companies and pension funds with billions to create and the public sector with their investment needs ideal partner. The policy could the financial sector as well as enable the people to offer a pension plan with decent yields despite the extremely low interest rates.

Economics Minister Gabriel praised the work of the Commission as “excellent.” He’ll be the recommendations that will be officially handed over to him next week, look closely.