Public Finances

Overview

The German Council of Economic Experts examines a wide range of questions relating to fiscal and tax policy with a focus on Germany and Europe. Specific topics include, for example, the analysis of public expenditure at the level of the regional authorities and their tax policy decisions as well as questions on national and European fiscal rules. In addition, the GCEE forecasts within its economic outlook the public revenues and expenditures of the German state as a whole. 

The GCEE is also a member of the working party on tax revenue estimates, an advisory board of the Federal Ministry of Finance, which estimates federal government revenues twice a year. The Federal Government uses the results for its budget and medium-term budget planning.

Recent publications

Working Paper

Implications of the German debt brake reform for key fiscal indicators

Working Paper 02/2026 by Christian Ochsner, Anina Harter, Theresa Neef, Leonardo Urrutia and Christopher Zuber (Download)

Report

Improving the additionality and investment orientation of the special fund

Annual Report 2025/26, Chapter 2 (Download)

Working Paper

Reform der Unternehmensbesteuerung in Deutschland

Working Paper 03/2025 by Florian Neumeier and Michael Stimmelmayr (Download)

more

Time series download

Here we offer a selection of time series including the recent forecast of the German Council of Economic Experts.

Public Finances (XLSX, in German)Additional time series