zeit.de
Thuringian Businesses Face Closure as Owners Retire Without Successors
In Thuringia, Germany, the successful transfer of Braun & Höfler GmbH to two former employees highlights a broader trend of thousands of businesses facing closure due to retiring owners, particularly in trades like plumbing and mechanics, creating potential economic and social disruptions.
- What are the immediate economic and social consequences of the predicted closure of thousands of Thuringian businesses due to a lack of successors?
- In Elxleben, Germany, Stephan Wreden and Tobias Theis, former employees, took over Braun & Höfler GmbH, a heating company, in 2024. This successful succession contrasts with the thousands of Thuringian businesses facing closure due to retiring owners. The Thuringian Crafts Council considers this a model for successful business transfers.
- What long-term strategies are needed to address the challenge of business succession in Thuringian trades, considering both economic and social impacts?
- The shortage of successors in Thuringian businesses will likely cause significant economic and social consequences in the coming years. These include regional service gaps, reduced economic activity, job losses, and potentially weakened social cohesion. Government efforts to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and promote business succession planning are crucial to mitigate these impacts.
- Why are fewer children of business owners taking over family businesses, and what are the resulting challenges for smaller businesses in finding successors?
- Many Thuringian businesses, particularly smaller ones, lack successors, leading to potential closures and economic consequences. Of roughly 28,000 businesses, 11,000–12,000 have owners 55 or older, with 25–50% potentially facing closure due to a lack of succession planning. This trend is especially critical in trades with older workforces, such as plumbing and mechanics, potentially creating significant labor shortages.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the story around a positive example of successful company succession. While this is important, the overwhelmingly positive framing of the Elxleben company overshadows the broader, more concerning issue of widespread succession problems in the Thuringian craft industry. The headline (while not explicitly provided) would likely emphasize the success story, further contributing to this bias.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral. However, terms like "gelungene Unternehmensnachfolge" (successful company succession) and "dramatisch" (dramatic) are somewhat loaded and could be replaced with more neutral phrasing. The description of the situation as a 'Kipppunkt' (tipping point) is somewhat dramatic.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the success story of one company's succession, but omits discussion of failed succession attempts or the challenges faced by other companies trying to find successors. This omission might create a misleadingly optimistic view of the overall situation.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplified view of the situation, focusing on the binary of success (Wreden and Theis) versus failure (businesses closing). It doesn't fully explore the nuances of challenges like finding the right successor, financing the transition, or adapting to changing market conditions. The implied dichotomy is that either a business finds a successor and thrives, or it fails and closes.
Gender Bias
The article does not exhibit overt gender bias. The focus is on the business and its succession, not gender roles. However, there is a lack of data on the gender breakdown of business owners and successors which is an omission.
Sustainable Development Goals
The successful transfer of Braun & Höfler GmbH to a new generation of owners ensures the continuation of a business, preserving jobs and economic activity in the region. The article highlights the broader concern of business succession in the crafts sector, impacting employment and economic growth. Failure to find successors threatens job losses, reduced economic output, and potential supply shortages.