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Fiscal policy directly shapes the future and opportunities of young people — from tackling the climate crisis to ensuring quality education and advancing digital transformation. We equip young people to actively engage in financial policy debates and amplify their collective voice in the public sphere. At the same time, we make sure their perspectives are represented and strengthened in the development of fiscal policy.
In exchange with political decision-makers
Fiscal policy is a key policy field for future generations. Across the party spectrum, all political parties, justify their fiscal policy measures on the same argument: intergenerational justice. However, young voices are rarely heard and included. Therefore, FiscalFuture builds bridges not only accross generations, but also accross political parties in order to strenthen the voice of young people in the debates on fiscal policymaking. As a non-partisan and non-profit organization, we are in a trusted exchange with relevant stakeholders and political decision-makers from all democratic parties in Parliament.
Patronage: Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil
Federal Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has taken on the patronage of FiscalFuture's education program on sustainable fiscal policy. Through this program, we train young people to lead workshops on fiscal policy for their peers across Germany — on questions like how to finance infrastructure modernization or whether the federal budget is fair to future generations. The patronage reflects the trust we've built with Germany's political leadership.
Shaping the government's action plan against tax crime
When Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig developed Germany's action plan against tax and financial crime, FiscalFuture was invited to contribute expertise from civil society ahead of its publication. Several of the points raised in that exchange are reflected in the plan's 26 measures.
Tax fraud and money laundering are estimated to cost Germany up to €100 billion a year — dwarfing the much-debated cost of welfare fraud. The plan's centerpiece, a joint center against tax and financial crime housed at Germany's customs authority, targets exactly this. We'll continue pushing to ensure it is implemented in full, without being watered down by lobbying pressure.
Talk with Nobel laureate economist Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz
FiscalFuture Managing Director Carl Mühlbach moderated a discussion between the President of the German Senate/Upper Chamber, Andreas Bovenschulte, and Nobel laureate economist Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz on the fight against inequality — held at Bremen's state representation in Berlin. Stiglitz argued that rising inequality is a political choice, not a mathematical certainty, and pointed to Germany's former debt brake as an obstacle to the investment needed for a strong future.
Bringing federal ministers to the table with young people: The Financial Youth Dialogue
Our flagship event, the Financial Youth Dialogue, returns on 6 November 2026 in Berlin. This time, next to renowned people from the worlds of politics and academia three federal ministers — Lars Klingbeil (Finance), Karin Prien (Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth) and Bärbel Bas (Labour and Social Affairs) — will join young people and leading voices from across the political spectrum, business and civil society for direct, on-equal-footing exchange on the fiscal decisions shaping their future.
A Look Back at the Event 2024
About 200 young people participated in the Financial Youth Dialogue 2024. Among the participants were numerous youth representatives from civil society organizations, grassroots and political movements, including Juso national chairman Philipp Türmer. They voiced their demands in times of multiple crises and distrust in political decision-making to leading economists and politicians.
The event took place under the slogan “Financing the future, defending democracy!”. The participants discussed the interconnection between the current rise of anti-democratic narratives and right-wing parties and the financial policy decisions of recent years. What are the economic and social consequences of austerity? How can these be adressed, and which financial policy changes are needed now? Among the speakers were high-level experts like Ricarda Lang (Greens), Christoph Meyer (Liberals), Kevin Kühnert (SPD), Yasmin Fahimi (DGB) and Adam Tooze.
It was sponsored by the Berlin State Agency for Civic Education (Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Berlin) and took place in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (party-affiliated foundation of the Social Democratic Party).
Trusted across the political sprectrum
We are in regular, trusted exchange with decision-makers from every democratic party in parliament — from the Federal Ministry of Finance to state governments, including Austrian Finance Minister Marcus Marterbauer and CDU Minister-President Daniel Günther of Schleswig-Holstein, who visited our office to discuss the federal financial package, the debt brake and the interests of young people in economic policymaking.
Shaping the public debate
We bring the perspective of future generations into Germany's fiscal policy debate — through op-eds, interviews and regular appearances across television, radio, print and international media. Our presence in the public debate allows us to amplify the interests and voices of young people where they would not be heard otherwise. Carolina Ortega Guttack and Matilda Gettins have contributed to “Highlights in the New Economy Field” by Partners for A New Economy.
Most recently, Carl Mühlbach appeared on the Phoenix talk show Phoenix Runde to discuss the state of long-term care and how fiscal policy decisions can change the situation.
As featured in: Spiegel · ZEIT Online · ZDF · Tagesschau · Stern · Table.Media · The Guardian · Wirtschaftswoche · The Pioneer · Al Jazeera
Research for a generation-fair fiscal policy
Our advocacy is grounded in evidence. We publish policy briefs, legal opinions and studies that translate academic research into concrete proposals.
A ruling in Bremen recognizes the climate crisis as an emergency. This opens up new climate finance opportunities for Germany’s federal states, according to a legal opinion commissioned by us.
Together with the Bertelsmann Stiftung, we published a focus paper condensing existing reform proposals into four guiding principles for a debt rule fit for the future: transparency, sustainability, investment capacity and crisis resilience.
Providing Expertise on Fiscal Policy:
Parliamentary Hearings, Speeches and Education
FiscalFuture is frequently invited to contribute to parliamentary hearings at both the federal and state levels. Additionally, we engage in technical exchanges and panel discussions, deliver speeches, and conduct workshops for other youth organizations. Through these efforts, we aim to connect with a diverse range of relevant audiences and advocate for fiscal policies that meet current as well as future challenges.
