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The author argues that growth determines employment and not the other way around. He opposes the widespread view among German economists that more employment generated by wage cuts or increased labour market flexibility will stimulate growth. For him, this view relies on theoretical prejudices that have to be rejected in light of some recent, simple evidence. The fact that all cyclical rebounds during the 1990s have been cut short by restrictive monetary policy explains the inability of the German labour market to regain full employment.
Europäische Arbeitspolitik
(2005)
Der Begriff „Arbeit“ hat Hochkonjunktur. Jedoch bleibt das grundsätzliche Verhältnis zwischen Arbeit und Politik weiterhin unbestimmt. Unsere Autoren beschäftigen sich mit ökonomischen Spielräumen und ungenutzten Handlungsoptionen. Sie wagen hierbei den Blick über den deutschen Tellerrand und suchen gezielt die europäische Perspektive. Im Eröffnungsbeitrag diskutiert Peter Ulrich nicht nur Fragen zur Effizienz, sondern zu einem gerechten Arbeitsmarktes und sinnvollen Arbeitsformen. Am Beispiel der Internetökonomie diskutieren Raphael Menez, Josef Schmid und Stefanie Springer das Spannungsfeld zwischen Arbeitspolitik und industriellen Beziehungen. Wie sich Arbeitspolitik mit all ihren Dilemmata auf der europäischen Bühne konkret abspielt, zeigen Milena Büchs, Kilian Kindelberger und Annerose Poleschner in ihren Artikeln exemplarisch auf. Unter welchen Bedingungen finden Investitionswettbewerb und Sozialpolitik in der „Ära nach Hartz“ statt? Diesen Fragen gehen Britta Rehder, Christine Trampusch und Klaus Deimer nach.
Flassbeck’s article proposes to use demand management to enhance growth in Germany in order to increase employment. The author considers this kind of policy to release positive, but merely short-term effects. In the long run, he argues, government measures such as the deregulation of the labour market are necessary strategies for long-term growth.
The authors agree with Flassbeck’s claim that growth generates employment. However, they do not agree with Flassbeck’s conviction that growth is to be increased by demand management. In their comment, they explain why deficit spending and expansionary monetary policy are inappropriate substitutes for a sound structural policy.
The author agrees with Flassbeck that growth is important, particularly as a condition to solve existing structural problems of the labour market. Yet, in his opinion the central question is how to get higher growth rates. Straubhaar’s answer is different from Flassbeck’s: a ‘no’ to more public deficits, more regulations and more state activities; and, a ‘yes’ to more market, more flexibility, more mobility.