Gerhard Schröder calls for start-up support

The former chancellor sees the topic as one of the most important for the future of the Federal Republic. It would be part of his Agenda 2030.

Gerhard Schröder's Agenda 2010 has shaken up the entire labour market in Germany. Some say he made the Federal Republic fit for the future and created a job miracle. Critics, on the other hand, complain that he created a low-wage sector at the expense of the working population and a poverty reform.

In an article now, ex-Chancellor Schröder talks about his Agenda 2030 and has put the topic of start-ups at the top of the list. In order to shape Germany's future, the country needs comprehensive reforms, he writes on the career network Linkedin. He has formulated five theses, including "True equality of opportunity in education" and "More flexibility in the pension system". At the top of the list, however, is: "Stronger support for start-ups."

In the accompanying guest article at t-online, the ex-chancellor goes into detail. "We are too bad at promoting start-ups and other young companies," he writes. He says this has to do with the fact that banks shy away from risks too much and that "state institutions cannot fill these gaps sufficiently". He calls for a double change of mentality: "Anyone in Germany who dares to do something that makes sense must firstly be able to get this venture financed. And secondly, if it still goes wrong, they must be able to get back up again. Because failure must no longer be a stamp for eternity."