The majority of Germans are optimistic about the new year. Young people in particular (14-24 years: 79%) are optimistic about 2013, whereas only a minority of retirees (over 65 years: 47%) are positive about the future. This is the result of a recent representative survey conducted by the BAT Foundation for Future Studies, in which 2,000 people aged 14 and over expressed their expectations for 2013.

Within the population, men are also more optimistic than women, West Germans more positive than East Germans and parents more hopeful than childless people. There are also major differences in terms of education and income: The higher the education and income, the more optimistic people are about 2013. For example, only one in two Germans with a low net household income (under €1,000: 50%) and only a minority of those with a low formal education (46%) are optimistic about the future. In contrast, almost three quarters of those with a higher formal education (€74%) and even four out of five of those with higher incomes (over €2,500: €81%) are optimistic about the coming year.

Citizens increasingly concerned about Germany's economic strength

The economic, financial, banking, debt and euro crises have noticeably shaken confidence in Germany's economic strength. Eighty per cent of the population now believe that there will be a recession next year. In contrast, only one in five expect economic output to grow. Concerns about the future increase significantly with age. Education also influences the view of 2013 - while 85 per cent of those with a low level of formal education are pessimistic about the future, this figure is „only“ 72 per cent for those with a higher level of formal education. „The population's view is primarily based on the fear of being among the losers of an economic development that they do not understand and can hardly influence. In this context, there is growing concern about a noticeable decline in personal prosperity. But there is also growing concern that Germany's economic strength will be held back by financial payments to other countries,“ says Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the BAT Foundation.

Politics does not receive more approval in 2013 either

Trust in politicians is not in danger of increasing in the 2013 election year either. East Germans and low-income earners in particular have almost completely lost confidence in politics. There are numerous reasons for this mistrust. For example, there is a lack of moral role models as well as a lack of thinking and acting beyond legislative periods and detached from party pressure. Citizens also have the feeling that it is all about staging, that politicians are interchangeable and that they make empty election promises instead of offering reliability, perspective and future orientation.
Professor Reinhardt concludes: „2013 will be a decisive year in many respects. It will decide to what extent global problems - from climate change to the fight against poverty - will actually be tackled. It will decide whether Greece will remain in the eurozone, whether countries such as Spain, Italy and even France will overcome their economic challenges and to what extent Germany is prepared to help other countries financially and economically. It will also be decided in 2013 whether citizens will continue to trust the government's course or whether they will vote in favour of a new cabinet.
But even though the list of global challenges is long, fear of an economic recession is high and there is hardly any trust left in politics, three out of five German citizens are confident about 2013. This optimism characterises the - otherwise so sceptical - Germans“.