German critics of American society often remark on the huge disparities between rich and poor. That could never happen in the German Sozialstaat, they contend. Gerhard Schröder, himself from a modest background, also committed his government to leveling the playing field in German society, so that everyone could have an equal chance to succeed economically.
Unfortunately, it has not worked out that way in the six years the Red-Green coalition has been in power. A study prepared by the German government and reported in Der Spiegel shows that poverty has increased in Germany, whie the wealthy have done quite nicely indeed. In particular:
- Since 1998 the percentage of Germans living in poverty – as defined by the European Union – grew from 12.1% to 13.5%.
- Property was further consolidated in the hands of the wealthiest Germans. 47% of the entire wealth of the country is controlled by 10% of the households.
- The number of German household with too much debt grew 13% to 3.13 million.
- The chance to get a unversity education is "inherited": children of affluent parents are 7 times more likely to study at a university than children whose parents with ‘average’ income.
What is paricularly disturbing are the statistics whoing that it is becoming increasiningly impossible for low income families to rise into the middle class
So ist es der rot-grünen Bundesregierung, aber auch den für die
Bildung zuständigen Landesregierungen nicht gelungen, sozial
Schwachen den Aufstieg zu erleichtern. "Die Chancen eines Kindes
aus einem Elternhaus mit hohem sozialen Status, eine
Gymnasialempfehlung zu bekommen, sind rund 2,7-mal so hoch wie die
eines Facharbeiterkindes", heißt es in dem Bericht. Trotz aller
Maßnahmen seien "die Chancen auf Zugang zu Bildung noch immer
ungleich verteilt".
Allzu wenig Bewegung gab es auch zwischen den
Einkommensschichten – zumindest nach oben. Ein Drittel aller armen
Haushalte schafft es laut Bericht auch nach Jahren nicht, sich aus
einer prekären Finanzlage zu befreien. Auch der Aufstieg von der
Mittel- in die Oberschicht gelingt selten – und wenn doch, dann
allenfalls mit Hilfe einer Erbschaft, die aber wiederum zumeist
ohnehin Gutbetuchte ereilt.
Chancellor Schröder’s economic ‘reform’ package of Agenda 2010, is sure to make the situation even worse – or better, depending on which economic class you belong to.
