Craftsmen’s Federation President Jörg Dittrich has criticized the federal government for showing a lack of commitment to necessary reforms. Speaking to the Funke Media Group’s newspapers, Dittrich noted that despite expectations for a coherent overall concept, there has been no discernible movement on reform, neither in the spring nor in the past autumn.
He strongly criticized the public discourse, particularly the excessive focus on tax redistribution, arguing that such measures do not stimulate economic growth. According to Dittrich, increasing the top tax rate, for example, neither boosts exports nor encourages investment.
The Federation President urged the government to overcome what he considers an excessive distrust of entrepreneurship and personal responsibility within Germany. He argued that excessive documentation obligations, high taxes, and fees stifle both the motivation to become self-employed and the desire to achieve economic success.
Furthermore, Dittrich demanded that any changes to the tax system must proactively create incentives for investment. He also called for a reduction in the social security costs for both businesses and employees, invoking the success model of the Agenda 2010 implemented under Chancellor Schröder.
