Overview

• Michael Hüther, head of the IW Köln, suggests abolishing a public holiday, estimating it could raise Germany's GDP by up to €8.6 billion annually.
• Hüther cites the 1995 elimination of Buß- und Bettag as evidence that reducing holidays is feasible for economic benefits.
• Marcel Fratzscher of DIW Berlin counters that addressing labor shortages requires increased migration and greater workforce participation by women, not fewer holidays.
• Political figures, including SPD's Armand Zorn and Die Linke's Jörg Cezanne, reject the proposal, emphasizing the importance of holidays for worker well-being and productivity.
• The debate highlights broader tensions between economic growth strategies and preserving cultural and labor traditions in Germany.