Political party SPD proposes the elimination of spousal separation

The Social Democrats (SPD) in Germany are leading the charge to reform the marriage tax split, a policy that has been a subject of debate due to its potential impact on employment incentives and income disparities.

According to the RWI economic institute, abolishing the marriage tax split could lead to more than half a million additional full-time jobs. The institute's report highlights the potential economic benefits of this reform, suggesting that it could have a significant impact on employment.

Sarah Philipp, chairwoman of the North Rhine-Westphalian SPD, supports this reform. She believes that household gaps cannot be closed solely through cuts in the social state and emphasises the need to focus on income issues during social state reform.

Monika Schnitzer, the Expert Council's chairwoman, shares this view. In a report for the German-French Ministerial Council, she recommends abolishing the marriage tax split. Her report supports the SPD's stance on ending the marriage tax split, adding to the growing body of evidence supporting this reform.

The SPD views it as the state's task to promote equality, not outdated role models and inequality. Wiebke Esdar, deputy chair of the SPD parliamentary group, stated that the marriage tax split benefits one-earner marriages, which contradicts the SPD's goal of promoting equality.

The marriage tax split leads to negative employment incentives for women, resulting in high part-time employment and low replacement wages in short-time work or unemployment. This is a concern that the SPD is addressing by advocating for an end to the marriage tax split.

The parties currently negotiating the possible abolition of the marriage tax difference are the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP) in Germany. Philipp is open to negotiating a fair family tax split with the Union.

The SPD's position on the marriage tax split has received support from both the Expert Council and the RWI economic institute. These organisations' findings suggest that the marriage tax split favors couples with significant income disparities, and that it is a tax advantage for married couples, specifically benefiting couples where one earns much and the other earns little.

Low pension claims are another consequence of the marriage tax split, according to the SPD. By reforming the marriage tax split, the SPD aims to address these issues and promote a more equal society.

In conclusion, the SPD is advocating for an end to the marriage tax split, a policy that could lead to increased employment, a more equal society, and a fairer tax system. The institutes' findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting this reform, making it a crucial topic in current German politics.