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Forced exmatriculation against anti-Semitism

Between academic freedom and security concerns: anti-Semitism and the response of German universities

Anti-Semitic incidents at German universities have increased significantly since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023. Nationwide, there is growing concern for the safety of Jewish students. Since an act of violence in Berlin in February 2024, there have been discussions about better legal measures against anti-Semitism in the university context. Better regulations are needed to protect Jewish students and secure the university environment, while at the same time strengthening the autonomy of universities.

Jakob Reinhold
April 15, 2024
kurzum
Adobe Stock / kilimanjaro

Energy transition? Yes, but please make it sustainable!

Appeal for an environmentally friendly, secure and affordable energy supply in Germany

15 April 2024 marks the anniversary of the shutdown of the last three nuclear power plants in Germany. An opportunity to take stock of Germany's energy transition. Our short policy paper suggests guidelines for making the energy transition sustainable.

Sabina Wölkner, Martin Schebesta
April 15, 2024
kurzum
Adobe Stock / Marco2811

Das Rentenpaket II

Mehrbelastung statt Generationengerechtigkeit

Angesichts des demografischen Wandels, der unweigerlich den Druck auf unsere Sozialsysteme erhöht, zeichnet sich ein hoher Reformbedarf in der deutschen Altersvorsorge ab. Das Rentenpaket II soll die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung laut Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung modernisieren, sodass sie auch für jüngere Generationen verlässlich bleibt. Welche Ziele verfolgt das Rentenpaket II? Wie ist es zu bewerten und wie könnte eine nachhaltige und generationengerechte Rente aussehen? Die Antworten auf diese Fragen finden Sie im Kurzum „Das Rentenpaket II: Mehrbelastung statt Generationengerechtigkeit“.

Natalie Klauser, Dr. Felicitas Schikora
March 12, 2024
kurzum
IMAGO / aal.photo

Successful transformation needs pragmatism but not a new “Sondervermögen”

Sustainable fiscal policy does not need trickery

Following the German Federal Constitutional Court's historic ruling on the 2nd Supplementary Budget Act 2021, ways are being sought to ensure legal financing of the economic transformation. One option that is repeatedly brought up is the possibility of setting up a "Sondervermögen” (special fund) modelled on the special fund for the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). It is important to understand that this is not a real asset; on the contrary, it contains credit authorisations in the amount mentioned. A new paragraph in the Basic Law was necessary for its establishment so that the respective incurrence of debt in the financial year in which it is actually incurred is exempt from the provisions of the debt limit.

Dr. Jan Cernicky
December 6, 2023
kurzum
IMAGO / IPON

Emergency without ending? The federal budget in limbo

The second supplementary budget 2021 is incompatible with basic constitutional law and thus null and void

With the second supplementary budget 2021, the federal government seemed to have found the solution to its problems: The € 60 billion in unused funds earmarked for the consequences of the corona pandemic were transferred to the "Climate and Transformation Fund" (KTF). This special fund was intended to promote energy transition and climate protection instruments while at the same time complying with the debt brake. The diverging interests of the three coalition partners were therefore no longer subject to any budget restrictions; there was money for everything at once – and thanks to the credit authorizations "in reserve" until after the next federal election. However, a "win-win" turned into a "lose-lose situation" after the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court on November 15, 2023. The supplementary budget was "incompatible with the basic constitutional law and thus null and void"[1], making the reallocation of funds unconstitutional.

Dr. Felicitas Schikora, Gunter Rieck Moncayo
November 27, 2023
kurzum
Adobe Stock / Twinny B Studio

There is still a gap between the federal states and municipalities

How municipal information security can be strengthened

In recent years, there have been numerous IT security incidents in municipal administrations and organisations. The Online Access Act (OZG) obliges local authorities to digitise their processes. More and more sensitive citizen data is being processed digitally. In many of the approximately 10,900 local authorities across Germany, the IT infrastructure is outdated, the IT systems are not sufficiently protected, the financial resources for information security are too low and the personnel requirements are far too high. This makes municipalities in Germany easy victims for attacks.

Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer
November 6, 2023
kurzum
Adobe Stock / Wolfgang Jargstorff

Bioenergy: An Underestimated Pillar of the Energy Transition

Challenges and Opportunities for Bioenergy

Against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, energy supply security has become a new priority, as a result of which bioenergy is also attracting greater attention again as a domestic energy source. Key framework conditions for bioenergy are changing this year due to a series of changes in legislation, such as the amendment of the German Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz), the German Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz) and the European Renewable Energy Directive.

Jonathan Neu, André Algermißen
October 10, 2023
kurzum
IMAGO / NurPhoto

China's Financial System in Turmoil

What Does This Mean for German Investments?

Since it became known over a year ago that the Chinese real estate developer Evergrande is at risk of collapsing under its immense debt burden, it has become clear that the Chinese financial system has weaknesses. The situation is now escalating dramatically: in the past few days alone, it has been revealed that another real estate group, "Country Garden," is facing payment difficulties; the same goes for the major trust fund "Zhongrong International." The Chinese yuan has fallen so far that Chinese banks intervened in the foreign exchange market to stabilize the exchange rate.

Dr. Jan Cernicky
August 23, 2023
kurzum
IMAGO / Sabine Gudath

Back on track for success in housing policy

Ways out of the crisis

The promotion of home ownership is and remains an important component of social policy and can make a significant contribution to equality of opportunity and intergenerational justice. More courage is needed to implement urgently needed reforms. This brief asks how housing policy can be put back on the road to success, for example by lowering the cost of property financing.

Dr. Felicitas Schikora
July 5, 2023
kurzum
AdobeStock / William W. Potter

De-Dollarisierung der Weltwirtschaft?

Warum der Renminbi nicht als neue Leitwährung taugt

In jüngster Zeit tauchten vermehrt Meldungen über eine vermeintliche De-Dollarisierung der Weltwirtschaft auf. Die Dominanz des US-Dollars bei der Finanzierung des internationalen Handels sowie seine herausgehobene Rolle als Reservewährung würden demnach durch den Aufstieg des Renminbi und den Aufbau eines BRICS-eigenen Zahlungssystems bedroht.

Gunter Rieck Moncayo
May 23, 2023
kurzum
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About this series

Concise, reduced to the essentials, but always highly topical. In our series "kurzum", our experts summarise an issue or problem on a maximum of two pages.