從德國Hartz改革法案反思後歐債危機的歐盟經濟治理

The EU's Economic Governance in the Post-Euro Crisis Era and Labour Market Reforms? Reflections on Germany's Hartz Reforms

羅至美(Chih-mei Luo)

《政治科學論叢》 71期 (2017/03) Pp. 41-74

https://doi.org/10.6166/TJPS.71(41-74)

摘要

本文旨在從對立性的論點中釐清出德國勞動市場改革－所謂的Hartz改革法案對德國社會與經濟的福祉效果為何，並以5項政策評估標準作為本文的分析架構，再繼而探討此一類型的勞動市場改革是否可以繼財政紀律之後，成為歐盟在後歐債危機時間的經濟治理中，另一項值得效法的德國模式。本文確認Hartz改革法案有效地降低了德國的高失業率，但並根本性地解決其失業問題。同時，此一降低失業率的成效係以低薪部門的成長、全民薪資的負成長、與所得分配不公的惡化為代價。對個人而言，Hartz改革法案所造成的工作貧窮與失業貧窮上升的現象意味著它並非是一福祉提升的政策；對德國經濟而言，則因國內消費的萎縮而不利經濟成長；對德國社會而言，則因所得分配不公的增加與惡化的生活水準意味著社會潛在的不穩定風險。因此，此一類型的勞動市場改革無法成為其他歐盟國家學習效法的模式；亦無法成為歐盟在財政撙節與負利率的後歐債危機時代其經濟治理的解答。本文認為，歐洲統合所面臨的真正危險，不在於高失業問題的挑戰，而在於德國其一體適用簡化思維下所流露出的自滿，以及作為歐元區領導國家，其對歐盟事務所展現出的雙重標準。本文提醒，對勞動市場改革推動的不當處置恐將進一步瓦解民眾對歐洲統合僅存的脆弱信心。

關鍵字

勞動市場改革 ； Hartz改革法案 ； 歐洲統合 ； 後歐債危機時代 ； 經濟治理

並列摘要

This paper was an attempt to clarify the effects of the German labour market reforms, commonly known as the Hartz reforms. Competing arguments were used to identify the welfare implications for German society and economy in order to explore whether or not such labour market reforms might provide another German answer, following fiscal discipline, to the EU's post-euro crisis management. This paper confirmed that the Hartz reforms effectively reduced German unemployment, but they did not fundamentally solve the problem. Moreover, such effects appeared to propagate an increase in the size of the low-paid sector, negative wage growth, and increasing income inequality. The reforms were not welfare-enhancing for individuals because of increased poverty levels in employment and unemployment, which further implied a counter-productive risk for the German economy because of the contraction of domestic consumption, and potential social instability for the German society because of rising inequality and deteriorating living standards. Therefore, the Hartz-style reforms could be neither a desirable model for other EU countries, nor the answer to the EU’s post-euro crisis management in a time of fiscal austerity and negative interest rates. The real danger to European integration, as argued in this paper, was not the challenge from high unemployment, but from Germany’s complacency of a one-size-fits-all thinking and, being the EU’s leading country, its double-standards of the differential nature and contexts of the European unemployment issue from the German one. This paper warned that the mishandling of labour market reforms could result in the collapse of the already fragile public confidence in European integration.

並列關鍵字

Labour Market Reforms ； The Hartz Reforms ； European Integration ； Post-euro Crisis Era ； Economic Governance

參考文獻

Bardach, Eugene(2005).A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving.Washington, D.C.:CQ Press.

Beissinger, Thomas,Chusseau, Nathalie,Hellier, Joel(2016).Offshoring and Labour Market Reforms in Germany: Assessment and Policy Implications.Economic Modelling.53,314-333.

Biewen, Martin,Juhasz, Andos(2012).Understanding Rising Income Inequality in Germany.The Review of Income and Wealth.58(4),622-647.

Bloomberg Business. 2013. “Merkel Cites East Germany Lessons for EU's Problem States.”in http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-02-18/merkel-cites-east-germanlessons-for-crisis-wracked-euro-states. Lastest update 10 March 2016.

Bonin, Holger(2012).The Two German Labour Market Miracles: Blueprints for Tacking the Unemployment Crisis.Comparative Economic Studies.54,787-807.