Frank Nullmeier is Professor at the Socium, the Bremen-based centre for research on inequality and social policy. He analyzed the consequences of increasing inequality. We talked with him about poverty in Germany.
Deutsche Welle: What is inequality in Germany?
Frank Nullmeier: First of all, the income inequality is the classical indicator: On the one hand, there are very income-rich, on the other hand, very income-poor people. The labour market situation has changed significantly through the process of de-industrialisation – not only in Germany. For Germany it is even the least within the countries of Europe. But the tendency, recognized in all developed countries. Thereby a few very highly qualified or very highly paid jobs to develop and on the other hand, there are many people who have either no or only low-paid work.
What are milestones in this development?
In the 70s and 80s, there was a de – industrialisation thrust with the demise of the coal, the shipyards and other industries, for example, in the textile industry. There was out-migration, or technological change, has changed. In the 90s, there was a big wave of early retirement. The industrial companies have changed their structure fundamentally. The service sector grew. At the same time, there was a political promotion of the low-wage sector: introduction of mini-jobs and other forms of limitation, which have helped to create a relatively large sector, in which not very much is earned. In the sector of mini-jobs, many women are. So we have the women’s employment rate increased, but the wages that you acquire in these Jobs are relatively low. By this social policy, not of equality, but the inequality has been increased. This is the effect of the turn of social policy in the 90s and the first years of the century.
Prof. Frank Nullmeier
Since we are talking of the Hartz IV reforms, the Agenda 2010. The SPD has defended these steps, because at that time Germany was the “sick man of Europe”: It had not gone differently. How do you see today?
At the time, it was one of the almost all the experts shared the basic opinion that it is necessary to create such a low-wage sector, this Situation of increasing de-industrialisation and the reduction of what used to be called working class or working class to get out. Today we see the open. The science argues about whether or not these Hartz reforms have contributed really to the current Situation. What no one can deny, is that you don’t have at least contributed to the transport of equality. Economically, Germany has come on the feet, but the inequality has been increased. And on the same level as it remains now.
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You say that inequality is on the rise. How does this inequality in Germany? We are talking about relative poverty. Where is the poverty?
First of all: The inequality in the world has dropped in the last few years. The differences between the Nations are decreased, because in Asia some countries a stable long economic process have brought a lot of people have ascended into the middle class. Similarly, in Latin America, in a lower extent, also in Africa. Within these countries have increased the inequalities. Worldwide, the definition of Poverty refers to how many dollars each Person has. For the national poverty it is expected that relative poverty sizes: i.e. the existence minimum. What you need to achieve an appropriate socio-cultural Standard of the country? The poverty and wealth report of the Federal government has brought a life-world-based criterion with: What can make people really? What time is it for you really hard? That is not the same under the bridge to sleep. But: when you can’t afford certain things? One of the highest poverty risks alone Verdi is to be a Person with one or more children.
Apart from single parents – what other groups are affected by poverty and inequality?
People with stable careers. If we count them separately, especially children growing up in families with Hartz IV-or low-income. Child poverty is a major difficulty for Germany: that the next Generation grows up in a very significant dimensions in poverty situations. The older Generation over 65 years of age know at the moment is hardly poverty. But due to the deteriorating careers for many people and the low wages in certain areas will also increase this old-age poverty significantly.
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Germany: wealth and social inequality
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Wealth and social inequality (24.02.2017)
What about wealth inequality?
Which is still grown much faster than income inequality. These dimensions are barely retrievable. We have set a cumulative process in motion, where the differences are automatically getting bigger and bigger. If there is no process of asset destruction – and there are always unpleasant situations such as war, Inflation or a major financial crisis, which all the other pulls in pity – then it is wealth inequality. In Europe, you realize the not-so-strong. But in the USA, party financing or the financing of the candidate’s money. The asset difference is reflected so clearly and the destroyed from the inside out democratic life based on the fact that each person has a voice and not a voice times a Million.
Is perceived this inequality? And: Is the inequality in Germany is unfair or fair?
Also, this is in the poverty and wealth report have been asked. There is a tendency to overestimate the inequality. The population believes that the problem of Poverty is slightly larger. On the other side, but it is considered such an inequality situation as very unjust. There is also a basic pulse, fair conditions, so not so unjust conditions. The. Therefore, the word justice is in German election campaigns is already a word that has great significance. It must, however, have a choice of decisive importance if other issues such as safety issues in the foreground slide. But there is no way to make in Germany’s election campaign with a Slogan that says, the theme of justice for us is not important.
The interview was conducted by Nina Haase, and Sumi Somaskanda.