One of the areas where reforms are necessary in France receiving wide attention is the state pension system. True, the predecessors of President Francois Hollande have already made efforts to mitigate the financing of pensions to former civil servants and of the public basic pension schemes for private-sector employees. Thus, by the end of the decade – this means faster than in Germany – the retirement age for a full pension will be raised from 65 to 67 years. Nevertheless, rising deficits in the pay-as-you-go basic pension system indicate further need for action. [more]

The next multiannual financial framework of the European Union (2014-2020) allows disbursements to be partially linked to economic conditions in order to enhance the effect of these funds by preparing the right economic framework. However, time inconsistencies and a low probability of sanctions make these instruments less effective. These first approaches to conditionality under the MFF should be further developed and extended to other instruments of the Union such as the ESM, the fiscal compact and other mechanisms of economic policy coordination. [more]

Demographic change has come far as an issue for medium-sized businesses. When it comes to the necessary investments, for example in further training, large family businesses are more advanced than small and medium-sized enterprises. Even though there is no threat of a general deficit in candidates for succession in the foreseeable future, succession arrangements need to be prioritised in many businesses as the number of companies ready for transfer is set to rise. Regardless of whether family succession or an external solution is chosen, transfers are often associated with significant risks. The economic and financial position of the company, the market environment and financial conditions play just as much a role as the motivation, interests and values of those involved. Given the complexity of the transfer and its huge importance in the company's history, experts recommend transfer management in which all the necessary steps are planned and implemented at an early stage. [more]

Within the framework of “The major family businesses in Germany” study series, 401 of the 4,400 major family businesses in Germany with an annual turnover of more than 50 million euros provided representative information in the spring 2013 survey on their current and future economic situation, the euro crisis, economic policy priorities for the coming years, own activities in R&D and the conditions for innovation. [more]

Since the financial crisis, the countries of Europe have been faced with the difficult challenge of consolidating their budgets while at the same time promoting economic growth. One approach is a growth-conducive tax system, which keeps distorting effects of taxation on the growth factors – labour, capital and technological progress – as small as possible. Tax reforms carried out in the EU to date are steps in the right direction. Increasing economic policy coordination in Europe offers the chance to implement further structural reforms. [more]