sueddeutsche.de
German Business Leaders Warn of AfD's Potentially Devastating Economic Impact
Days before Germany's federal election, leading business representatives and a study by the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) warn that the AfD's economic policies, including potentially leaving the EU and the Euro, would cause a massive loss of prosperity, costing around 2.5 million jobs and decreasing Germany's GDP by 5.6 percent in five years.
- How would the AfD's stance on immigration affect Germany's economic growth and demographic challenges?
- The IW study highlights the AfD's potentially devastating impact on the German economy. Their plans to leave the EU and Eurozone, coupled with an anti-innovation stance on technologies like electric mobility and renewable energy, threaten significant economic decline. The party's stance on immigration is also problematic, hindering Germany's ability to address its demographic crisis.
- What are the immediate economic consequences predicted by the IW study if the AfD's proposed policies are implemented?
- Days before the German federal election, leading business representatives warned about the consequences of a strong AfD performance. The AfD's economic policies, according to a study by the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW), would lead to a massive loss of prosperity and cost around 2.5 million jobs. These policies include potentially leaving the EU and the Euro, actions estimated to decrease Germany's GDP by 5.6 percent in the first five years.
- What are the long-term, systemic impacts of the AfD's economic and social policies on Germany's position in the global economy?
- The AfD's economic policies pose a long-term threat to Germany's prosperity and global competitiveness. Their rejection of EU membership, anti-innovation policies, and hostility towards immigration would severely hamper economic growth and technological advancement, ultimately leading to a less prosperous and influential Germany on the world stage. The study's projections of job losses and GDP reduction highlight the potential severity of these consequences.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline (if any) and introductory sentences strongly emphasize the negative economic consequences of an AfD victory. The sequencing of information, starting with warnings from influential business leaders, frames the AfD in a negative light from the outset. This framing potentially influences reader perception by prioritizing alarmist views.
Language Bias
The language used is predominantly negative towards the AfD's policies. Terms like "schädlich" (harmful), "gefährlich" (dangerous), "wachstumsvernichtend" (growth-destroying), "rückwärtsgewandt" (backward-looking), and "massiv beschädigt" (massively damaged) are used to describe the AfD's proposals. More neutral alternatives could include terms like "potentially problematic," "risky," or "could lead to challenges." The repeated use of negative terms reinforces a negative image of the AfD.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the warnings of business leaders regarding the AfD's economic policies, but omits perspectives from the AfD itself or other supporting voices. It doesn't present the AfD's economic arguments or counterarguments to the claims made by the business leaders. This omission limits the reader's ability to form a balanced opinion.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a dichotomy between the AfD's economic policies and economic prosperity. It implies that supporting the AfD automatically leads to economic decline, without acknowledging the possibility of other outcomes or nuances within the AfD's platform.
Sustainable Development Goals
The AfD's economic policies are predicted to cause significant job losses (2.5 million) and a substantial decrease in GDP (5.6% or €690 billion) according to an IW study. Their stance against EU membership, innovation in areas like e-mobility and renewables, and potentially hostile approach to foreign workers, all negatively impact economic growth and job creation.