A prominent economist calls for a mandatory social year for retirees – and faces sharp criticism
The head of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Marcel Fratzscher, sparked widespread controversy after proposing to require retirees to perform a year of mandatory social service. In an interview with Der Spiegel magazine, he stated that older generations should contribute more to society, whether in the social sector or in defense. He added that many retirees possess valuable technical skills, especially those who previously served in the military, and these experiences should be utilized.
Fratcher emphasized the need to strengthen solidarity between the young and the elderly, calling for a new social contract between generations. He criticized the older generation for what he described as ignorance and selfishness, pointing out that they have long ignored the challenges related to defense and climate policy. He also considered that the decisions of the 'baby boomer' generation – such as having fewer children – have placed an unfair burden on today's youth, as fewer workers are required to support a larger number of retirees.
Fratcher's statements were not the first of their kind; last July, sociologist Klaus Hurleman also proposed requiring the elderly to perform social service after the end of their working lives, considering that responsibilities such as enhancing defense capabilities should be shared by all generations. These proposals aim to address the challenges posed by the aging of German society and the increasing pressures on the security and care sectors.
However, the idea was met with sharp criticism. The German Social Union (SoVD) rejected Fratcher's accusations against the baby boomer generation and defended the rights of retirees, while the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) strongly opposed the idea of mandatory service. Anja Beil, a board member of the union, stated, "Those who have worked for decades deserve their full retirement," warning against stirring up conflict between generations. Other critics pointed out that the real problem lies in the disparity between the rich and the poor, not between generations.
This was followed by strong political reactions. The politician from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, René Springer, described the proposal as a "slap in the face of our elders," while Sarah Wagenknecht, founder of the BSW party, considered that forcing the elderly – who have spent their lives working and often receive modest pensions – to serve is the height of irony. The DIW Institute had already stirred controversy in July when it proposed another controversial idea: a "solidarity tax on the baby boomer generation," imposed on the top 20% of retirees' incomes. The institute believed that this tax could help stabilize the pension system and support low-income retirees, but the proposal intensified the debate about justice and responsibility between generations.