A survey conducted by the opinion research institute Forsa, and reported by RTL and ntv, reveals that most German citizens are largely unaware of the reform measures for the labor market, pension, and tax systems approved by the federal government. Only 30 percent of respondents stated that they generally knew which reforms had been decided upon, while a significant seven out of ten citizens (70 percent) indicated that most of the measures were unclear to them.
Expectations regarding the economic effects of these reforms are also subdued. Only 28 percent of German citizens believe that the difficult economic situation in Germany will improve due to the implemented measures, and only one percent anticipates a substantial improvement. Conversely, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) predict that the reforms will have virtually no impact on economic development.
Even among those who felt well-informed about the reforms, skepticism prevails. While 38 percent of this informed group anticipate an improvement in the economic situation, a majority of 63 percent do not believe there will be any noticeable economic effects. The only segment showing a clear majority belief in positive economic impacts is supporters of the Union, 55 percent of whom hold this view.
In contrast, German citizens are significantly more positive about the planned tax policy changes. Fifty-two percent of respondents believe that this measure will reduce social inequality in Germany, while 22 percent expect social inequality to increase, and 23 percent see no change.
A slight majority of Union supporters, along with a clear majority of supporters of the SPD, the Green Party, and the Left Party, believe that the tax plans will contribute to greater social justice. In sharp contrast, among supporters of the AfD, the prevailing view is that the proposed reform is more likely to increase social inequality.
The data was collected from 1,003 people across two surveys on July 3rd and July 6th.
