Research report 2003 - Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
The role of federalism in Germany today
Authors
Manow, Philip
Departments
Politik und politische Ökonomie (Prof. Dr. Philip Manow)
MPI für Gesellschaftsforschung, Köln
Summary
Germany’s brand of federalism was once considered one of the most outstanding features of the country’s system of government. Now, however, it is thought to be the cause of many of Germany’s political and economic problems. In recent studies researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies have found that critics are largely justified in saying that German federalism is so full of policy gridlock that it has become inefficient. There is a chance, though, that the system can reform itself from within.