East German companies are more critical of federal policy

A survey conducted by the Ifo Institute in Dresden shows that the economic policy of the German government is rated worse by East German companies than by West German companies. While it receives an average score of 4.14 there, it is rated at 4.27 in eastern Germany. "Significantly more companies in the east than in the west give the government a grade of 6. Construction companies and retailers are particularly critical," explained Joachim Ragnitz, deputy director of the institute in Dresden.

13 percent of the east German companies surveyed give the federal government a 6

In the survey, 13 percent of east German companies gave the federal government a failing grade of 6, compared to just 8 percent in the west. East German construction companies and retailers were more critical than their West German counterparts - an average score of 4.48 in the construction sector and 4.46 in retail - while there were hardly any differences between East and West in other sectors such as wholesale, industry and services, according to the report.

Social and pension policy scored particularly poorly

"The assessment of government policy was critical in all policy areas surveyed. Social and pension policy scored particularly poorly, with an overall rating of 4.62, which is in line with the ratings from western Germany," the institute said. Differences can be seen in financial policy (East: 4.18, West: 4.00), energy and climate policy (East: 4.32, West: 4.16) and industrial policy (East: 4.30, West: 4.11). "The results show that reforms are urgently needed in almost all areas," concluded Ifo Director Marcel Thum from Dresden.