Die Familie - ein Ersatz für das Sozialsystem?

The question of whether and to what extent adult children should financially support their parents or parents their children has again become the subject of political discussion in Germany. How far should the responsibility of the family extend? For Gerd Andres, Under Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs, the family cannot be a substitute for the social insurance system. Instead it should be supported comprehensively in the safeguarding of basic livelihood by social benefits and a family-friendly social policy. In contrast, Ralf Brauksiepe, MP, CDU/CSU parliamentary group, argues that, especially against the background of the current budgetary constraints, high-income or wealthy relatives of long-time employed persons should be involved in their assistance and thus partly relieve the burden on the taxpayers. For Volker Meier, Ifo Institute, the fundamental issue is the nature of the welfare state itself, particularly in his core competence of ensuring a basic livelihood.