German Council of Economics Experts

The German Council of Economic Experts is an academic body that advises on economic policy issues. Set up by law in 1963, it is mandated with the task of providing an impartial expert view in the form of periodic assessments of macroeconomic developments in Germany, thus helping economic policymakers and the general public to make informed decisions. The Council is fully independent in its advisory role and operates in a transparent manner. It describes the current economic situation and its likely future development, highlighting any adverse trends and possible ways of averting or mitigating them. To this end it discusses various indicators of economic output, quality of life, sustainability, and politically defined targets. It also analyses the progress, opportunities and risks of current economic policies and identifies potentially conflicting objectives. The Council’s reports and assessments form a key part of the economic policy debate in Germany and have significantly influenced the political decision-making process.

The following is a list of the Council's individual tasks according to its legal mandate:

• Analysing the current economic situation and its likely development.
• Examining ways and means of ensuring steady and adequate growth within the framework of the free market-economy system, whilst simultaneously maintaining high employment, price stability and a foreign trade equilibrium.
• While taking into account the accumulation and distribution of earnings and capital.
• Pointing out the causes of current and potential conflicts of macroeconomic demand and supply.
• Pointing out undesirable developments and examining ways and means of avoiding or eliminating these without suggesting specific economic or socio-economic measures.

In line with its legal mandate, the Council compiles and publishes an Annual Economic Report which is released in mid-November. In order to assess particular current problems and depending on the mandate issued by the government, the Council also prepares ad-hoc Special Reports. Since 2005, the Council has also been releasing  Occasional Reports on selected topics upon the request of the Federal Government. Since 2014, the Council has additionally published annual economic forecast updates in spring.

ORGANISATION

The Council of Economic Experts consists of five members who are specialists in the field of economic theory and economic policy. They are appointed every five years by the Federal President on the recommendation of the Federal Government. Reappointments are permitted. The Council then selects one of its members as chairperson for three years.

The Council of Economic Experts is supported by the Staff chaired by the secretary general. Furthermore, the Council resorts to the Liaision Office at the Federal Statistical Office in matters of organisation and statistics.