Is Germany Catching Trump’s Tax Disease?

By Marcel Fratzscher

The fiscal policies proposed by Germany’s emerging grand coalition government look very American. Like the US Republicans’ recent tax legislation, they are likely to bring limited short-term benefits to a few and huge long-term costs to many more.

BERLIN – After months of negotiations, another grand coalition government – comprising Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a grudging Social Democratic Party (SPD) – is taking shape in Germany. But the new government seems likely to miss the opportunity afforded by Germany’s strong economic and financial situation to pursue much-needed reforms.

In fact, the fiscal policies that Germany’s emerging government is discussing bear a remarkable resemblance to those of US President Donald Trump, whose tax plan, most economists agree, will bring limited short-term benefits to a few, but huge long-term costs to many more. Indeed, the incipient German government is discussing cutting taxes for corporations and the rich, while raising spending on public consumption, especially public pensions.

Read more at https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/germany-grand-coalition-tax-cut-mistake-by-marcel-fratzscher-2018-01

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