The Petersberg Declaration

Against the background of the worldwide financial market and economic crisis, leading German economists urge policymakers to maintain the reform course in labor market policy. The experts warn not to jeopardize the clearly positive effects of the recent reform efforts. The "Petersberg Declaration" also proposes an economic orientation of German immigration legislation and an improvement of the market for social services, which has so far been dominated by voluntary work. Moreover, the welfare state should encourage risk-taking as a key factor for mobility, innovation, and growth.