Podcast Summary

Make Economy Great Again – "Vouchersystem für Schulen, Aktienrente, EU – Ist das mega oder kann das weg?"

Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Daniel Stelter (Ökonom), Ulf Poschardt (WELT-Herausgeber)
Episode Theme:
A highly interactive live episode in which the hosts, joined by a large live audience, discuss Germany’s economic stagnation and the need for bold reforms. Audience members pose challenging questions about school vouchers, pension reform, the four-day workweek, Germany’s relationship to the EU, and more—each under the guiding question: "Ist das mega oder kann das weg?" ("Is this mega or can it go?").

Main Theme / Purpose

This special episode creates a dialogue on how Germany’s economy and society can overcome stagnation. By inviting audience participation, Stelter and Poschardt tackle pressing questions about education, pensions, the welfare state, defense, and the European Union. The central thrust: What outdated practices ("kann das weg?") should Germany discard, and which bold innovations ("ist das mega?") could inspire a new economic miracle?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Financial Education in Schools

[03:00-03:18]

• Young Audience Member (15 y/o Berlin student): Asks if financial literacy in schools is "mega" or pointless, suggesting current models (like Sparkassen-Sparbuch) are outdated.
• Daniel Stelter: "Also ich also es ist einfach mega und da muss man Eigeninitiative zeigen, dass man Besseres bekommt als das Sparkassenheft."
  (“It’s simply mega. You have to show initiative to get something better than that Sparkassen savings booklet.”) – 03:08
• Ulf Poschardt: Praises the young questioner, "Du machst schon mal alles richtig. Du musst deines Land übernehmen. Wir brauchen Leute wie dich." (“You’re doing everything right. Take responsibility, we need people like you.”) – 03:18

2. Liberal Military Service & Critical Patriotism

[04:11-05:56]

• Audience (Paul): Asks about the value of voluntary vs. compulsory military service, referencing the importance of individual choice.
• Ulf Poschardt: Responds with nuanced skepticism about German enthusiasm for military ventures, but supports voluntariness:
  “Natürlich finde ich das mega. Das muss so sein.” (“Of course I think it’s mega. It must be that way.”) – 05:01
  He questions the current cohesion and clarity of what Germany stands for collectively.

3. Pop Culture & Education: Haftbefehl-Doku in Schools

[06:00-07:26]

• Economics Student: Wonders whether pop culture phenomena (like the Haftbefehl documentary) belong in schools.
• Ulf Poschardt: Notes its surprisingly effective role as an anti-drug documentary, referencing his children’s circles.
• Audience: Points out the neurological harm of drugs and importance of educational outcomes.

4. Libertarian Pension Reform & Aktienrente

[07:44-09:35]

• Audience: Asks Stelter about models tying state pensions to number of children, shifting childless citizens toward private savings—accompanied by tax cuts.
• Daniel Stelter: Expresses skepticism of abrupt system shifts. Favors gradual, Swiss-style multi-pillar approaches over radical breaks:
  "Der Bruch damals von Adenauer ist ja auch nur erfolgt, nachdem er im Prinzip die Rentenkasse pleite war nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg... ich hoffe auch nicht, dass wir eine neue Stunde Null haben zeitnah." (“The Adenauer reform only happened after the state pension collapsed post-WWII… I hope we don’t have a new zero hour soon.”) – 09:14
• On Aktienrente (Equity Pensions):
  Rapid answer:
  Stelter: "Besser als nichts." (“Better than nothing.”) – 09:47
  Poschardt: "Mega." (“Mega.”) – 09:50

5. Marktwirtschaft ins Grundgesetz? (Market Economy in the Constitution?)

[09:51-11:21]

• Jens (VC): Suggests anchoring market economy in the German constitution.
• Stelter:
  "Im Grundgesetz wäre mega. ... Meine Sorge wäre, die Abstimmung würde nicht gelingen, großem Abstand nicht gelingen und die deutschen Medien würden es feiern."
  (“In the constitution? Mega. My worry is the referendum would fail by a wide margin, and German media would celebrate it.”) – 11:10
• Cites Reinhard Zittelmann’s polling of German market skepticism—contrasted with pro-market attitudes in Poland.

6. School Vouchers & Autonomy

[11:35-13:13]

• Matthias (Audience): Proposes full school privatization and voucher systems.
• Stelter: "Doppel mega. ... Ich würde sogar einen Schritt weiter gehen ..." (“Double mega. I’d go even further...”) – 12:05
  Advocates a competitive system based on England’s model, with performance rankings, results transparency, linked teacher pay, and full portability of funds for parents.
• Poschardt and Stelter praise efficient schooling and admire the German skills of their foreign guest.

7. European Union – Reform or Remove?

[13:20-14:57]

• European Supporter from Switzerland: Asks if the EU as currently constituted is mega or should go.
• Poschardt:
  "Die EU, die Frau von der Leyen gerade aus der EU macht, kann weg und wir brauchen anderes Ein Mega Europa. Wir brauchen ein Innovationseuropa. Wir brauchen ein marktwirtschaftliches Europa."
  (“The EU as it’s being shaped by Ursula von der Leyen, that can go. We need a different, mega Europe—an innovation Europe, a market economy Europe.”) – 13:55
  Distinguishes pro-European reformers from status-quo defenders, calls current EU an “Irrweg" (wrong path).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Daniel Stelter, on school reform:
  "Ich finde, ich würde sogar einen Schritt weiter gehen ... wir sollten Rankings veröffentlichen, über die Ergebnisse die Schulen erzielen, und müssten im Prinzip zum System kommen, wo alle überall hingehen können. Es wird alles vom Staat bezahlt und wir haben quasi Schulen, die im Wettbewerb miteinander stehen." (12:05-12:50)

• Ulf Poschardt, on youth empowerment:
  "Du machst schon mal alles richtig. Du musst deines Land übernehmen. Wir brauchen Leute wie dich." (03:18)

• Daniel Stelter, on Germany’s market-skeptic culture:
  "Die Deutschen sind ja mit die marktwirtschaftlich feindlichsten mit den Franzosen zusammen, ganz im Unterschied zu den Polen, die extrem marktwirtschaftsfreundlich sind." (11:08)

• Ulf Poschardt, on the current EU:
  "Die EU von Frau von der Leyen kann weg, wir brauchen ein Mega Europa. ... Niemand, der Europa kritisiert und sich als Europäer fühlt, ist ein Rechtspopulist." (13:55-14:20)

• Daniel Stelter, on pension reform:
  "Ich hoffe auch nicht, dass wir eine neue Stunde Null haben zeitnah." (09:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:00] – Financial education in schools: necessity and implementation
• [04:11] – On Germany’s military, liberalism, and civil responsibility
• [06:00] – Pop culture (Haftbefehl Doku) as anti-drug education
• [07:44] – Libertarian pension reform: skepticism and multi-pillar models
• [09:35] – Aktienrente: “Better than nothing,” broad support
• [09:51] – Market economy in German Grundgesetz? Debates on national sentiment
• [11:35] – School voucher models, increased autonomy, education competition
• [13:20] – The EU’s current state: critique and vision for “Mega Europa”

Final Remarks

The episode closes with gratitude to the audience and encouragement for ongoing discussion about how to push Germany—and Europe—toward economic renewal and innovation. The hosts maintain a pragmatic, witty, and sometimes provocative tone, thriving on audience engagement and debate.

Summary prepared for those who want the full sense and substance of the conversation—without advertisements, intros, or fluff.