State and Society

 

Higher life expectancy and a low birth rate are ageing and shrinking our society. Many in power still do not appreciate the likely effects on Germany’s social protection systems, for example. Demographic change may no longer be stoppable, but with the appropriate family policy the decline could at least be slowed.

 

 

Although the state subsidises families to the tune of many billions of euros annually, there are significantly fewer births in Germany than in other countries. Well qualified women with interesting jobs are especially likely to forego having children because of the difficulty in this country of combining a family with a career. Given a greater number of crèches, kindergartens and schools, more couples could fulfil their wish to start a family without having to abandon their careers for several years.

 

With their relatively high birth rate, immigrants to Germany are reducing the pace of population decline. However, a comparatively high proportion of migrants have only a low level of education and therefore few career opportunities. Both the government and society as a whole must therefore strive to achieve more effective integration. Well-trained migrants bring benefits for the indigenous population as well. Unfortunately, government policies tend to place obstacles in the way of highly qualified immigrants instead of welcoming them with open arms.