Without immigration, no prosperity

Economist & Photographer / No. 75

P: Good morning, Economist.

E: Good morning, Photographer.

P: I notice when strolling through Berlin that there are more and more job advertisements posted in stores. And service is more and more limited. For example, the butcher counter in my supermarket is only open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. these days, and the bistro there is closed entirely because the supermarket can’t find people for the job. And on my train rides, the on-board restaurant remains shut more often. What's going on in Germany?

E: The so-called baby boomer generation is beginning to retire. Germany is getting old. For every 100 working-age people (between 20 and under 65), there are currently around 37 people aged 65 and older. In 2050, it will be 64 people.

P: What can be done about this? 

E: We need more people in employment. Therefore, we have to work longer and need more people who want to come to and work in Germany.

P: More foreigners in Germany. That will make the right-wing party AfD happy.

E: What people tending towards the AfD do not realise: If Germany wants to maintain its prosperity, it needs a fundamentally positive attitude towards immigration. Currently, around 40,000 people enter the labour market in Germany every year. To keep the number of workers at today's level, however, 400,000 would be needed.

< silence >

P: Do you think people in Germany will change their attitude?

E: Why not? Here in Berlin, the proportion of foreigners is more than 24 per cent. And I think it's pretty good to live here.

P: Berlin as a role model for the whole country?

P: Why not?

E: You're probably not looking for new friends right now, are you?

P: I have you, Photographer.

P: That's true. Have a nice day, Economist.

E: You too.

……..🚶🏼‍♂️…🚶🏻

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Why do Strolling Economist and Accidental Photographer take daily walks? Check out here for more. – By the way, sometimes they go their own ways, the economist here, the photographer there.