Information on Mittelstand enterprises

18.06.2021 For more than a year now, the Corona pandemic has posed major challenges for the MIttelstand in Germany. Companies have been affected by the consequences of the pandemic in different ways: A large number of enterprises were able to continue operating almost unhindered by adhering to a hygiene concept. Some firms in particular sectors, such as the online or food trade as well as the information and communication technology sector, even profited from the crisis. However, the economic consequences for Mittelstand businesses were serious, especially in the sectors culture, gastronomy, tourism and retail because firms had to close down repeatedly or for a longer period of time due to the pandemic situation.

For economic policy, the main task was to limit the extent of the economic and social damage caused by the pandemic and to mitigate its acute impact on the self-employed and enterprises during the past months. The focus of Mittelstand policy was therefore primarily aimed at ensuring the survival of the Mittelstand economy. Accordingly, supporting programs were repeatedly adapted at short-term and new programmes were launched as needed. This policy response was basically correct – as well as the softening of regulatory principles in favour of broad-based support for the Mittelstand despite possible deadweight effects.

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