From reform gridlock to engine of prosperity: How we can unlock the potential of our economy
An economy that can breathe again
Our economy is not facing a crisis of ideas, but a crisis of framework conditions. Over the years, regulations, reporting requirements, and complex rules have coalesced into a system that ties up energy instead of releasing it. But therein lies the great opportunity: the untapped potential is enormous.
Analyses show that reducing bureaucratic burdens alone could generate up to €146 billion in additional prosperity . This is not a theoretical figure, but represents real investments, new jobs, and increased innovation. In a future-oriented economy, documentation requirements are not endlessly expanded, but replaced by simple, digital, and practical solutions. Companies gain back time – for customers, products, and progress.
The state as enabler rather than preventer
In this positive vision of the future, the role of the state changes fundamentally. It no longer tries to generate prosperity through subsidies, but focuses on the essentials: clear, stable, and reliable guidelines. In keeping with the principles of ordoliberalism, it sets the rules – but it does not participate itself.
A well-planned traffic system doesn't work because the planner controls every car, but because the routes are clearly marked. The economy should be organized in exactly the same way. My point isn't about "less government" as a matter of principle, but about greater efficiency. Where does regulation create real added value – and where does it simply hinder progress?
Continuous subsidies are no substitute for competitiveness. They distort incentives and tie up capital. What companies need is planning certainty, simple processes, and fair framework conditions. Then trust develops. And trust is the breeding ground for investment, innovation, and responsibility.
An efficient state is not a small state, but a precise one. Ludwig Erhard practically demonstrated this principle after the Second World War. With currency reform, the dismantling of price controls, and the consistent implementation of market-based economic policies, he laid the foundation for the German economic miracle. This was achieved not through permanent subsidies, but through clear rules, competition, and individual responsibility. The result was a historic surge in growth, rising employment, and widespread prosperity – driven by entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to perform, not by constant state intervention.
Currently, however, we are experiencing the opposite in many areas. Politically and economically, the density of regulations is increasing, funding programs are being expanded, and responsibilities are fragmenting. Instead of clarity, complexity is emerging; instead of speed, there are procedural hurdles. The consequences are palpable: investments are being postponed, innovation cycles are slowing down, and entrepreneurial energy is flowing into administration instead of value creation. The problem is not government involvement per se – but rather a lack of focus. When efficiency is not the benchmark for political action, friction arises. And it is precisely this friction that stifles growth, dynamism, and trust.
Courage to simplify – efficiency as the benchmark
A true breakthrough doesn't come from minor corrections, but from the courage to simplify. Regulations that have evolved over years must be rigorously questioned – including at the European level. Not everything that is well-intentioned works well in practice. What matters is not the number of regulations, but their effectiveness. For me, efficiency is the key criterion: Does a rule create genuine added value – or merely friction?
In a reformed economic order, entrepreneurs once again stand up for their ideas with "skin in the game." They primarily demand not government assistance, but freedom, planning security, and responsibility. This is precisely where dynamism arises. Competition is not seen as a threat, but as an engine of innovation.
Less bureaucracy means lower costs, higher productivity, and greater competitiveness – from small businesses to large corporations. A high-performing economic system is not an end in itself. It is the foundation for social cohesion, stable social security systems, and future viability. And it is the prerequisite for us to be able to afford the high standards of environmental protection that we rightly demand today. Ambitious environmental and climate protection does not arise from economic weakness, but from economic strength. Only those who generate prosperity can invest to this extent – technologically, infrastructurally, and socially.
Efficiency is therefore not a technical term. It is the prerequisite for progress – both economic and ecological.
Not a promise, but proof
This vision is not a utopia. It is the logical consequence of consistently transforming obstacles to reform into opportunities and making efficiency the benchmark for political action once again. Prosperity is not created through administration, but through value creation. Not through perpetual subsidies, but through clear rules and entrepreneurial responsibility.
The path to new prosperity is open – we just have to take it.
And that this approach works is already clearly evident in practice. In a subsequent article, I will use an example from transport logistics to illustrate how technological innovation – specifically the use of electric trucks – is driven not by ideology or subsidies, but by economic logic and entrepreneurial courage. This will demonstrate what happens when efficiency, planning, and responsibility come together.
The theory is clear.
Now comes the proof from reality.
