Every Sixth German Lives in Poverty, Threatening Democracy
Every sixth person in Germany lives in poverty, according to a recent report. This stark inequality threatens democracy and social cohesion, with the wealthiest tenth owning over 54% of the wealth while the poorest half owns only 3%.
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), a left-wing party, advocates for stronger contributions from the richest to public financing, fair inheritance and income taxes, guaranteed basic security for the poor, and extensive investments in social housing, education, inclusion, and health. The poverty rate has been high and stable between 14 and 18 percent for years.
Joachim Rock, CEO of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, warns that this social divide is 'dynamite for our democracy'. Unemployed people, single parents, children, people with a migration background, and people with disabilities are particularly affected. Even employment offers no reliable protection against poverty, with every sixth job being a low-wage job. Real wages have fallen despite minimum wage increases in crisis years. Housing has become a key factor in social inequality, with almost every eighth household spending more than 40% of its income on it.
The report highlights the urgent need for policy changes to address wealth inequality in Germany. Both the BSW and the Paritätischer demand stronger participation of the super-rich in financing the commonwealth, fairer taxation, poverty-proof basic security, and massive investments in key social areas to tackle poverty and protect democracy.
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