ContextGuest speech by Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, at the “Jahresköste” annual banquet of the Rostock Merchants’ Association, Rostock, 2 October 2026.
Why it mattersNames labour shortage, weak investment and low productivity as the brakes on German growth, and backs a pension reform linked to life expectancy.
- Germany's labour supply is shrinking as the baby-boom generation retires.
- Firms invest little and productivity is barely rising.
- Reforms such as pensions are hard to pass in the current political climate.
- Link the retirement age to life expectancy and raise labour supply.
- Mobilise Europe's large savings for investment at home.
- Strengthen digital sovereignty and work more closely with European partners.
Read the speech summary
1. A setting tied to reunification
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel spoke at the annual banquet of Rostock's merchants' association, a centuries-old tradition revived after reunification, on the eve of German Unity Day. He recalled the 1990 introduction of the Deutsche Mark in the East, noted that output per person there is still about 28% below the West, and stressed that strong and weak regions exist in both parts, with Rostock having grown into a science and technology hub.
2. A recovery with weak foundations
Germany did better than expected in the first half of 2026 despite tariffs and the Middle East conflict, and may grow by about 1% this year after three flat years, helped by debt-financed spending on defence, infrastructure and climate and by solid foreign demand. But Bundesbank experts put potential growth at only 0.4%, a third or a quarter of its pace ten years ago, because of labour shortages as baby boomers retire, low business investment and almost no productivity gains. To get back to regular growth of 1% or more he suggests more full-time work by women, removing incentives for early retirement, managed immigration in a welcoming climate, and faster, digital, simpler administration. He credits the government with tackling many issues but says it could move faster.
3. Pension reform
With about 800 000 young people entering working age each year against 1.2 million reaching retirement age, pension finances are under strain. He supports the pension commission's proposals: tying the pension age to longevity, raising it by two-thirds of any gain, as the Bundesbank had urged; ending penalty-free retirement after 45 years of contributions except in hardship cases, since it mainly benefits healthy people with high entitlements; and adding a mandatory funded pillar on the Swedish model, which raises contributions for a time but pays off over the long run. He warns that failure on these points would cast doubt on Germany's ability to reform.
4. The digital euro
Stressing that Germany alone is too small to weigh internationally, he backs a savings and investment union, a digital single market and greater digital independence. The digital euro would cut reliance on non-European payment firms, work across the euro area on phones, collect minimal data, allow almost cash-like offline payments and lower merchants' fees. He rejects claims that it would enable surveillance, be programmable, crowd out private solutions such as Wero or replace cash, and expects a decision in Brussels this year and an introduction from 2029. He concludes that change must be accepted if burdens are shared fairly.