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The regional differences in the housing markets are enormous and will continue to exacerbate in the future. The main task for the housing policy is to take appropriate long term measures depending on the market structure. A central aspect of future housing policy is the site development. Potential conflicts of interest with other social objectives must be detected and resolved. Creating a trading system for development rights appears to be promising. In order to secure housing for low income households, the housing allowance (Wohngeld) must be promptly adjusted to the market conditions. The public housing sector should be seen as an instrument for the stabilization of neighborhoods. Appropriate market rents secure a housing supply at a high level.

The reintroduction of a wealth tax in Germany would not contribute to more fairness in terms of the ability to pay principle. On the contrary: Since wealth in form of human capital is not taxed, a wealth tax would lead to a massive unequal treatment of people with the same ability to pay. The expected shift of the tax burden would hit low-income households in particular. Economic performance would decrease and the labour market would be negatively affected. Overall, the wealth tax cannot deliver what its promoters in the political arena promise.

t Poverty among the elderly is currently an exception in Germany. Nevertheless, it is foreseeable that future pensioners will have less income and assets at their disposal. Reasons are the effects of the demographic change to the pay-as-you-go pension scheme, gaps in employment biographies and low pay employment. With that in mind, the reform package advocated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is discussed and guidelines for a sustainable reform of the pension schemes are derived.

In der Politikberatung werden Wirtschaftswissenschaftler permanent mit Werturteilen konfrontiert. Die Vertragstheorie ist eine Möglichkeit, Werturteile offenzulegen und der wissenschaftlichen Betrachtung zugänglich zu machen. Der folgende Beitrag untersucht die vertragstheoretischen Ansätze von JohnRawls, RobertNozickund JamesM. Buchananauf ihre praktische Relevanz für die wissenschaftliche Politikberatung. In political consultancy economists are permanently confronted with value judgements. Contract theory allows disclosing value judgements and makes them accessible for scientific analysis. The following contribution examines the works of JohnRawls, RobertNozickand JamesM. Buchananon contract theory regarding their practical relevance for scientific political consultancy.