Germany Archives - Pension Policy International

27AugAugust 27, 2026

German workers oppose linking retirement age to life expectancy

More than eight in 10 (83 per cent) German workers oppose the proposal to link the statutory retirement age to life expectancy, according to research from Ver.di. The proposal would see the German retirement age increasing gradually, with 11 per cent of workers in favour of the plans. The trade union surveyed its membership and found that 56 per cent doubted they would be able to continue working at their current level of health until retirement. It also identified concerns about financial...

August 27, 2026

NewsGermany, Retirement Age

14AugAugust 14, 2026

German pensioners facing uphill battle to make ends meet as economic stagnation bites

Millions of pensioners in Germany are struggling to make ends meet due to fixed incomes, rising costs of housing, utilities, and healthcare, and inadequate retirement savings as the country undergoes a period of economic stagnation. In Germany, the risk of poverty generally does not refer to extreme poverty as seen in some developing countries, but rather to relative poverty, which is measured in relation to the median income of the country’s total population. According to the European Union Statistics on Income...

August 14, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform

09JulJuly 9, 2026

Germany Plans to Implement Proposed Pension Reforms by the End of 2026

The commission’s recommendations are, for now, political proposals. Concrete implementation—such as through legislative procedures—is still pending. Nevertheless, the proposed key points are notable because they may affect typical human resources and compensation structures—and because the federal government has sent a clear signal that it intends to implement all proposals. At the heart of a potential reform is the goal of placing the statutory pension system on a more stable long-term financial footing and broadening Germany’s overall retirement savings framework beyond...

July 9, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform

03JulJuly 3, 2026

Pension Income and Post-Retirement Labor Supply

By Fabian Kindermann, Carla Krolage, Sebastian Kunz, Manuel Pannier & Karoline Ströhlein This paper provides causal evidence on how pension income affects labor supply after retirement. We exploit the introduction of the German Earned Income Pension Credit (Grundrente), which permanently increased pension income for retirees with long contribution histories and comparatively low lifetime earnings. The reform generates exogenous variation in non-labor income without creating additional labor supply distortions, allowing us to isolate pure income effects. Using administrative data covering the...

July 3, 2026

Adequacy, Articles, Labor Market2026, Adequacy, Germany, Income, Labor Market

02JulJuly 2, 2026

German coalition agrees on sweeping reform package in key breakthrough

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling coalition has unveiled a sweeping package of tax, labour and pension reforms aimed at reviving Europe’s largest economy and countering a surge by the far right. The “Programme for Revival and Employment” announced on Thursday includes about 10 billion euros ($11.4bn) in annual income tax relief targeted at lower and middle-income earners, taking effect from January 1, 2027. The 34 reform measures also include an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees’ sick...

July 2, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform

01JulJuly 1, 2026

Germany’s ruling coalition to meet for crunch talks on reform package

The leaders of Germany's ruling coalition parties are meeting on Wednesday for what could be decisive talks on their reform package, with decisions on tax relief for low and middle incomes, labour market reforms, pensions, health care and long-term care all on the agenda. Whether decisions will be reached on Wednesday is unclear. Negotiations could also run into the night, with the coalition determined not to let itself be pressured by deadlines. A commission has already put forward proposals on pension...

July 1, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform

25JunJune 25, 2026

German reforms could see €400bn private pension boost

Germany’s reform of its public and occupational pension system could see more than €400bn flow into the scheme over the next decade, following recommendations made in a report published on Tuesday by the country’s pension commission. In an 80-page submission, the commission – Alterssicherungskommission – made 33 recommendations to the government as to how to reform the country’s public and occupational pensions. If fully implemented, IPE analysis suggests the reforms could see capital inflows of more than €400bn across the pillars...

June 25, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform

24JunJune 24, 2026

Merz backs plans to raise Germany’s retirement age to 70 in pension changes

Germany will gradually raise its retirement age to about 70 by the early 2090s under recommendations backed by the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, as a means of future-proofing the pension system for an ageing population. Presenting its findings on Tuesday, an expert commission set up to explore reforms to the pension system said retirement age should be linked to rising life expectancy and early retirement should be scrapped. “No citizen needs to worry,” said Merz, as he said the measures would prevent the collapse...

June 24, 2026

NewsGermany, Pension Reform, Retirement Age

16JunJune 16, 2026

Reforms could relieve German budget by up to €60 billion, Ifo says

Germany's financial situation could be improved by up to €60 billion ($70 billion) annually by 2030 with a series of economic ‌reforms, calculations by the Ifo Institute showed on Tuesday. The study, commissioned by the employer-funded think tank New Social Free Market Initiative, shows that the government could generate around €54 billion through changes to pension ⁠insurance, parental allowance and subsidies. An additional €6 billion could be generated through growth-promoting investments at the federal level. “To achieve that, reform packages need to...

June 16, 2026

NewsGermany, Public spending

03JunJune 3, 2026

Germany’s 2027 pension shake-up: who wins and who loses?

Germany’s life insurance sector is facing its most significant competitive disruption in a generation, according to financial analytics firm Kidbrooke. With landmark pension reform legislation now confirmed, incumbent insurers have a narrowing window to modernise their digital infrastructure or risk being outpaced by nimbler rivals on day one of the new market. The reform centres on the Altersvorsorgedepot, a new state-subsidised private pension savings account passed by the Bundestag in March 2026 and approved by the Bundesrat on 8 May 2026,...

June 3, 2026

NewsFintech, Germany

August 2026

German workers oppose linking retirement age to life expectancy

German pensioners facing uphill battle to make ends meet as economic stagnation bites

July 2026

Germany Plans to Implement Proposed Pension Reforms by the End of 2026

Pension Income and Post-Retirement Labor Supply

German coalition agrees on sweeping reform package in key breakthrough

Germany’s ruling coalition to meet for crunch talks on reform package

June 2026

German reforms could see €400bn private pension boost

Merz backs plans to raise Germany’s retirement age to 70 in pension changes

Reforms could relieve German budget by up to €60 billion, Ifo says

Germany’s 2027 pension shake-up: who wins and who loses?