Justus Lenz

A Policy Advisor for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Liberal Institute, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom's think tank. He is a visiting lecturer at the Willy Brandt School of Public, University of Erfurt. Before starting work at the Naumann Foundation, he was the Head of Fiscal Policy and Digital Transformation at the German Family Business Association. His research interests include Institutional Economics, eGovernment, and digital transformation

Economy

New Report Shows: No Effect of Debt Brake on Public Investments

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / May 6, 2024

The debt brake repeatedly sparks discussions and as the next budget negotiations in Germany draw nearer, voices calling for a relaxation of the rules on debt limitation grow louder. There were good reasons for its introduction, including the ever-increasing public debt burdens. The public debate in Germany is primarily conducted with unproven theses, assumptions, and assertions, as there has been no comprehensive study on the impact of the debt brake.

Economy

Fear Devours Stock Culture: Planned EU Ban on Broker Commissions

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / September 21, 2023

Well-intentioned does not automatically mean well-executed. That would be the positive interpretation of the planned EU ban on rebates to stockbrokers. Fear devours stock culture! This might be the negative interpretation of the agreement in principle reached between the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. Work is currently underway on the specific regulation.

Economy

Third Way? Social Market Economy: Between Laissez-Faire and Interventionism

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / September 24, 2021

Freedom, private property, competition, and the rule of law proved to be more successful than an all-controlling bureaucracy. In a way, the division of Germany constituted a large-scale real-world test for the long-term effects of free markets vs. a centrally planned economy.

Publications, Think Tank News

German Migrant Founders Monitor 2021

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / August 5, 2021

The startup ecosystem and its impact on Germany´s innovative culture and its economic success are important research and policy areas. FNF and the Bundesverband Deutsche Startups e.V. collaborated to create the Migrant Founders Monitor 2021, which looks at the role of migrant founders in the German ecosystem.

Economy

Success Factors of Social Market Economy in Germany Amid COVID-19

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / March 2, 2021

In recent months, many countries have introduced enormous stimulus packages to help their economies overcome the devastation caused by the COVID-19 crisis. In Germany, the government made available emergency funds, created sector-specific relief programmes, and implemented demand stimulus measures such as a temporary reduction in the sales tax rate.

Society

COVID-19: Implications of Gangelt Infection Study

BY Justus Lenz AND Liberales Institut / April 22, 2020

The city of Gangelt offers the chance to better understand the virus and its means of transmission. A team of scientists led by virologist Professor Dr Hendrik Streeck from the University Hospital Bonn conducts an in situ study and presented the first results before Easter.

Politics

Policy Options for Tackling COVID-19 Crisis

BY Justus Lenz AND Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom / April 10, 2020

To stop the coronavirus, most countries ceased almost all economic and social activities. As a first response to prevent an exponential growth of cases, this was probably justified. However, we will not be able to bear the costs of such a complete shutdown for a very long time.