This paper analyses and compares the first and the second program of burden sharing (Lastenausgleich): which were enacted after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany 1948/49, and after the reunification of Germany 1990, respectively. The first program of burden sharing, firstly, aimed...

Since 2000, the individual monthly payments from the Germany Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme (GRV) to new male pensioners have been declining. Those entering retirement today receive an average of 7 percent less than those who retired ten years ago. At the same time, the number of recipients...