Hands off my Christmas Money

The new Grand Coalition running Germany plans, according to this article (German), to cut the Christmas money (Weihnachtsgeld) given to federal government bureaucrats and officials. Everyone's gotta tighten their belt, so the politicians say, and you (we) are no exception. We're not asking of you anything state-level officials and private-sector employees haven't already had to do.

If you're not German, you may be wondering what Christmas money is. It's a question I asked last year, when my December paycheck last year was a lot higher than usual.  "It's Christmas money!" my German colleagues told me.  "Why did I get it?"  "Because it's Christmas!"  "You mean," I asked, my eyes moistening slightly in gratitude, "the government is giving little old me free money as a Christmas present?"  "Of course!  We all get some." It seemed all cuddly and warmly paternalistic and 1950s. Next thing you know we'll be getting government-issue whisky to offer to business visitors, and silk stockings to bring home for the wife.

So far, the officials seem to be taking the Christmas money cuts (and added workhours for no pay) with a minimum of grumbling.  Not with no grumbling, just with a minimum. Good for them.  Germany's going to need a lot more of that spirit as it manages its slow decline.  As I recently read in the Economist:

If people are becoming better off relative to their own past standard of living, they will care less about where they stand in relation to others.  If they are not growing better off relative to their own past standard of living, they will care more about their placing in relation to others--and the result is frustration, intolerance, and social friction.

(Review of The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth by Benjamin M. Friedman).

Germany's new government won't be able to halt Germany's slow economic decline, because it has no mandate to. A commanding majority of Germany's voters just decided it doesn't want to take the risks that would come along with serious reform. Since Germany doesn't want leaders who will take bold new policy steps, what Germany needs is officials who can manage and deflect the "frustration, intolerance and social friction" that economic decline will produce. For instance, by giving up their free money to share in the sacrifice...

Comments

[Ligia]

I want my Xmas money too:-(

In Brazil employed people ( I work as "Honorarkraft") do get not just Xmas money but frequently still a chest with at least half of what you need for a fancy Xmas eve: nuts, turkey, wine, some canned fruits and some reasonable toys for your kids...Well I think besides the Xmas Money the greedy company where my husband works wil give him just a box of ordinary "1-Pound-Panetone" (a kind of italian Xmas cake) :-(