Preface

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Preface

Thinking about the future has become fashionable. There is no shortage of studies, analyses and commissions, with a great diversity of subjects, time horizons, scope and degree of specialisation. Therefore, the first question we had to address was how an academic 'future commission' could make an original contribution. As an academic Commission, we put less emphasis on ideological principles and points of view, but stressed instead sober analysis and the solutions it suggests. The Commission decided not to focus exclusively on one question; neither did it attempt to set out a comprehensive blueprint for the future. The composition of the Commission and the time and resources available did not permit the latter. Instead, we concentrated on a number of central areas of reform and developed feasible recommendations. We did not only wish to develop adequate solutions, but also wanted to take account of the conditions for their realisation.

From the outset our work was influenced by the impression that the debates on the economic development of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the welfare state and the family, and on ecology tend to be largely conducted in isolation, when they are in fact closely interrelated. Our point of departure was the 'German model' that evolved in the Federal Republic after World War II. This model successfully combined economic development (growth and structural change), social stability and social cohesion. The 'German model' was internally consistent and robust. Although it has continued to evolve, it is now facing fundamental problems. Therefore the Commission has formulated recommendations that outline central elements of a new model, which is similarly consistent and robust as the previous one. The Commission's approach was guided by the idea that reforms must place equal emphasis on economic performance, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. The Commission does not subscribe to an harmonious view of the world; it has thus examined in depth the complex interdependencies of and contradictions between these three goals and has taken them into account in formulating its proposals. It is for this reason that we have chosen the title of this publication, 'Economic Performance, Social Cohesion, Environmental Sustainability-Three Goals, One Path'.

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The members of the Commission came from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds, including macro-economic and innovation economics, industrial and family sociology, public finance, social policy, economic and social ethics, ecology, political science and law. The diversity of expertise and styles its members brought to the work of the Commission was very fruitful and characterised the Commission's deliberations. This diversity of perspectives made it easier to describe a developmental path for the economy and society which pays adequate attention to its different subsystems and their interlinkages. Our debates were also characterised by differences of opinion, some of which remain. However, the Commission has aimed at consistent arguments and conclusions without compromising the plurality of opinions and perspectives. Therefore I should like to thank all the members of the Commission for the atmosphere of intellectual inspiration and personal tolerance in which the Commission was able to carry out its work.

We should also like to offer our thanks to the members of the Academic Secretariat of the Commission at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for their vital support in producing this report. The team was headed by Dr Jochem Langkau and included Christa Müller, Harald Mylord and Udo Scholten.

The Commission is well-aware that our proposals cover only part of what we consider the main aspects and problems. Many questions have still to be answered and many questions have yet to be properly formulated.

The Commission's proposals are informed by the intention to retain the aims of the German model of a wider social market economy under the conditions of increased international competition and a changing society. This will only be possible if the traditional structures of the German model are not defended at all cost.

Prof. Dr. Frieder Meyer-Krahmer
Chairman of the Future Commission
Karlsruhe, March 1998