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- 5. Economic Policy ReformsGoing for Growth 2006 Edition Oecd Digital Instant Download Author(s): OECD ISBN(s): 9789264035911, 9264035915 File Details: PDF, 3.59 MB Year: 2006 Language: english
- 6. ISBN 92-64-03591-5 12 200601 1 P Economic Policy Reforms Going for Growth 2006 Economic Policy Reforms Going for Growth 2006 Across the OECD, governments are seeking to undertake structural reforms to strengthen their economic growth. Going for Growth 2006 takes stock of the progress made in implementing policy reforms to improve labour productivity and utilisation that were identified as priorities in the 2005 edition. It also provides comparative indicators covering structural policy areas such as labour markets, education and product market regulation. These indicators enable countries to see their economic performance and structural policies in comparison with others. A special feature of Going for Growth 2006 is the focus on innovation, which is a key driver of economic growth. It provides comparative indicators on performance and relevant policies in this area, and country-specific policy recommendations for each OECD country to improve innovation performance. In addition, this issue contains two analytical chapters covering: • Regulation of financial systems and economic growth • Alternatives to GDP as a measure of well-being This publication puts together the knowledge accumulated at the OECD in these various fields. www.oecd.org Subscribers to this printed periodical are entitled to free online access. If you do not yet have online access via your institution's network, contact your librarian or, if you subscribe personally, send an e-mail to: [email protected] -:HSTCQE=UXZ^VV: Economic Policy Reforms Going for Growth Structural Policy Indicators and Priorities in OECD Countries ISSN 1813-2715 2006 SUBSCRIPTION 2006
- 8. ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMICCO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT Economic Policy Reforms Going for Growth 2006
- 9. ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMICCO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT The OECD is a unique forum where the governments of 30 democracies work together to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of globalisation. The OECD is also at the forefront of efforts to understand and to help governments respond to new developments and concerns, such as corporate governance, the information economy and the challenges of an ageing population. The Organisation provides a setting where governments can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and work to co-ordinate domestic and international policies. The OECD member countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Commission of the European Communities takes part in the work of the OECD. OECD Publishing disseminates widely the results of the Organisation’s statistics gathering and research on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as the conventions, guidelines and standards agreed by its members. Publié en français sous le titre : Réformes économiques Objectif croissance – 2006 © OECD 2006 No reproduction, copy, transmission or translation of this publication may be made without written permission. Applications should be sent to OECD Publishing: [email protected] or by fax (33 1) 45 24 13 91. Permission to photocopy a portion of this work should be addressed to the Centre français d'exploitation du droit de copie, 20, rue des Grands-Augustins, 75006 Paris, France ([email protected]). This work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Organisation or of the governments of its member countries.
- 10. EDITORIAL ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS:GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 3 Editorial Over the past two decades, living standards in a number of OECD countries, notably Japan and some Continental European economies, have fallen further behind the best performers. The social costs associated with this failure to converge are plain to see, and will only worsen with demographic ageing. At the same time, potential growth and resilience to economic shocks have improved in other OECD countries. This divergence in performance holds policy lessons for how best to spur sustained growth in living standards. The first issue of Going for Growth, which was released one year ago, brought out some of these lessons. It inaugurated a new form of benchmarking surveillance, complementing the OECD’s long-standing country- and sector-specific surveys. This surveillance rests on structural policy indicators with a well-identified link to economic performance, which serve to gauge to what extent GDP divergence reflects differences in the effectiveness of public policies rather than in tastes and societal choices. Using these indicators, alongside the detailed expertise of the OECD’s committees and staff, a set of policy recommendations is derived for each OECD member. Last year, we focused mainly on labour and product markets. In this second issue, we follow up on the progress made in those areas. We document the efforts deployed to raise labour productivity consistent with the priorities that had been identified last year, notably as regards easing barriers to entry and other regulations inhibiting competition, and strengthening human capital formation. Unfortunately, new initiatives to lift labour utilisation have been rarer. In particular, little has been done to reduce the implicit tax on work beyond certain age thresholds. As indicated last year, our ambition is to gradually broaden the scope of the indicators underpinning the Going for Growth venture to take into account other policies that potently influence economic performance. This year, we are extending it to include innovation, recognising its importance as one of the main engines of long-run growth. The policy indicators used to “explain” innovation performance encompass framework conditions, such as regulations affecting competition in product markets, as well as more specific policies like public R&D spending. Innovation performance is measured through patents or R&D intensity. They need to be interpreted with care, however: R&D spending is not an end in itself; and patents, while obviously a product of innovative activity, are only one way to protect innovators’ rights, not to mention that many of them are never exploited commercially and that some are filed for litigation purposes. We followed the same approach as for labour and product markets: identified weaknesses in the policy settings coupled with sub-par innovation performance or weaknesses in the proximate determinants of innovation (such as skills or financial conditions) are taken to suggest that reforms are called for to move closer to best practice. For example, when innovation performance is found to be below the OECD average while relatively high regulatory barriers stifle competition, we see a prima facie case for product market reform and for a recommendation in this area.
- 11. EDITORIAL ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS:GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 4 In the same spirit, albeit more tentatively, this issue of Going for Growth also explores another field, namely financial markets. Building on recent OECD research, it suggests that well-developed financial markets matter for growth and that, in turn, financial development owes a lot to greater competition in the banking sector as well as adequate investor protection. Moving from these general conclusions to pointed policy recommendations for each member country would require, however, further efforts to build a more refined set of indicators OECD-wide. Lastly, this second issue of Going for Growth takes a few steps back to reflect on the yardstick used in the course of surveillance to measure success. One of the key objectives enshrined in the OECD’s 1960 founding Convention is “to promote the highest sustainable growth” of members’ economies and to “improve the economic and social well-being of their peoples”. In Going for Growth, real GDP per capita, estimated at purchasing power parity, serves as the gauge, but how well does it proxy more holistic notions of well-being? We surveyed a range of alternative indicators of well-being, taking into account such dimensions as income distribution, social outcomes, the environment or reported happiness. While most do add useful information, they all suffer from various drawbacks, including availability, measurement and cross-country comparability problems. Some of the more appealing ones are also strongly correlated with real GDP. In the end, GDP per capita may well be the least imperfect and most timely summary statistic of well-being. Supplementing it with other indicators might help nonetheless to nuance and qualify what could otherwise be an excessively reductionist approach to welfare. As was the case last year, it should be underlined that this new issue of Going for Growth is the fruit of a collaborative exercise involving various OECD Departments including Economics, Employment and Social Affairs, Financial Affairs, Science and Technology, as well as Statistics. Jean-Philippe Cotis OECD Chief Economist This book has... StatLinks A service from OECD Publishing that delivers ExcelTM files from the printed page! Look for the StatLinks at the bottom right-hand corner of the tables and graphs in this book. To download the matching ExcelTM spreadsheet, just type the link into your internet browser, starting with the http://dx.doi.org prefix. If you’re reading the PDF e-book edition, and your pc is connected to the Internet, simply click on the link. You’ll find StatLinks appearing in more OECD books.
- 12. TABLE OF CONTENTS ECONOMICPOLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 5 Table of Contents Part I Progress in Responding to the 2005 Policy Priorities Chapter 1. Progress in Responding to the 2005 Policy Priorities: Overview . . . . . . . . . 9 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Policies to improve labour productivity performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Policies to increase labour utilisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Chapter 2. Progress in Responding to the 2005 Policy Priorities: Country Notes. . . . . 21 Part II Encouraging Innovation Chapter 3. Encouraging Innovation: An Overview of Performance and Policies . . . . . 55 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Assessing innovation performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 The determinants of innovation and underlying policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 From background analysis to country-specific recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Chapter 4. Encouraging Innovation: Country Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Part III Thematic Studies Chapter 5. Regulation of Financial Systems and Economic Growth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Financial development and performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Government regulation of the financial system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 The impact of financial regulation on economic performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
- 13. TABLE OF CONTENTS ECONOMICPOLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 6 Chapter 6. Alternative Measures of Well-being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Monetary measures of well-being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Non-monetary measures of well-being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Summary and conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Annex A. Structural Policy Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 The codes for country names and currencies used in this volume are those attributed to them by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These are listed below in alphabetical order by country code. ISO country code Country name ISO currency code AUS Australia AUD AUT Austria EUR BEL Belgium EUR CAN Canada CAD CHE Switzerland CHF CZE Czech Republic CZK DEU Germany EUR DNK Denmark DKK ESP Spain EUR EU European Union (15 members prior to 2004 enlargement) n.a. FIN Finland EUR FRA France EUR GBR United Kingdom GBP GRC Greece EUR HUN Hungary HUF IRL Ireland EUR ISL Iceland ISK ITA Italy EUR JPN Japan JPY KOR Republic of Korea KRW LUX Luxembourg EUR MEX Mexico MXN NLD Netherlands EUR NOR Norway NOK NZL New Zealand NZD POL Poland PLN PRT Portugal EUR SVK Slovak Republic SKK SWE Sweden SEK TUR Turkey TRL USA United States USD
- 14. ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS:GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 PART I Progress in Responding to the 2005 Policy Priorities As a general rule, the cut-off date for information used in Part I is end-2005.
- 16. ISBN 92-64-03591-5 Economic PolicyReforms Going for Growth © OECD 2006 ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 9 PART I Chapter 1 Progress in Responding to the 2005 Policy Priorities: Overview This chapter provides an overview of the progress achieved by member countries over the past year in taking measures consistent with the policy priorities identified in the 2005 edition. Overall, several important steps have been taken to reform competition- restraining regulations in product markets and towards improving educational outcomes in most countries where this was seen as a priority. However, less progress has been made in responding to priorities in the area of labour market policies.
- 17. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 10 Introduction The 2005 edition of Going for Growth identified five policy priorities for each OECD country and the European Union to raise GDP per capita.* This chapter provides an overview of the progress that countries have made over the past year in taking measures that are in line with these identified policy priorities. It is based on notes for each OECD country and the European Union as a whole that give more details on progress for each of the five specific priorities (see Chapter 2). In addition to the passing of legislation or other decisions to implement reforms, the chapter records earlier stages of reforms, such as government announcements and draft legislation presented to parliaments. Given that the quantitative indicators have not been updated to reflect actual or planned changes in policies, the assessment of progress is qualitative in nature. The chapter focuses on whether reforms that have been undertaken or planned are in line with the general thrust of the country-specific priorities rather than if they correspond to the detailed formulation of the priorities in the 2005 edition of Going for Growth. The chapter reviews progress in reforming policies to improve labour productivity performance and labour utilisation. The key results are as follows: ● With respect to policy priorities to raise labour productivity, moves consistent with the identified policy priorities are underway or have already been made towards easing controls on entry in product markets and other competition-restraining regulations, strengthening human capital formation and reforming various other policy areas that affect labour productivity. The striking exception to this pattern is the absence of agricultural reforms, where significant progress depends on the outcome of the Doha trade round. ● With respect to policy priorities to raise labour utilisation, reforms along the lines of the identified policy priorities, especially for continental European countries, have in most cases neither taken place nor been planned. For example, few moves are underway to reduce the still high implicit tax on working beyond certain ages, cuts in tax wedges have been modest if any and reforms of employment protection legislation, labour cost floors and wage bargaining system have been virtually absent. A greater tendency towards reform can be observed in the area of disability and sickness benefit systems for the countries where this was identified as a priority. These policy changes notwithstanding, the priorities reported in the 2005 edition of Going for Growth still constitute by and large a relevant programme for necessary reforms. * Three of the priorities were determined with the help of internationally-comparable indicators of performance and policy settings, which were used to uncover weaknesses in specific performance areas and to identify policy settings that could alleviate these weaknesses. The remaining two priorities were not necessarily derived on the basis of indicators – though some were – and rather drew on country-specific expertise. The indicator-based priorities were mostly confined to labour and product market policies, supplemented by policies in the areas of education and health, whereas the other policy priorities extended to various areas.
- 18. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 11 Policies to improve labour productivity performance At least one policy priority to improve labour productivity performance was identified for all OECD countries and for the European Union. In many cases, this reflected large gaps in productivity levels vis-à-vis the leading country (Figure 1.1). In some countries with relatively high recorded productivity levels, it was motivated by lacklustre productivity growth rates over the past decade (Figure 1.2) and the possibility that high recorded productivity levels overstated the real strength in this area as they might be related to policy-induced under-employment of low-productivity workers. The identified policy actions to improve labour productivity performance included the easing of product market entry controls and other competition-restraining regulations, cuts in agricultural support, measures to improve educational outcomes and various other measures. Figure 1.1. The sources of real income differences, 2004 1. Based on year 2000 purchasing power parities (PPPs). 2. Labour resource utilisation is measured as total number of hours worked divided by population. 3. Labour productivity is measured as GDP per hour worked. 4. Excluding Luxembourg. Source: OECD, National Accounts of OECD Countries, 2005; OECD, Economic Outlook, No. 78; and OECD, Employment Outlook, 2005. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 -80 -40 0 40 -80 -40 0 40 -80 -40 0 40 Effect of labour resource utilisation2 Effect of labour productivity3 Percentage gap with respect to US GDP per capita1 Turkey Mexico Poland Slovak Republic Hungary Czech Republic Portugal Greece Korea Spain New Zealand Italy European Union4 Germany Japan Netherlands Belgium United Kingdom France Finland Sweden Australia Austria Denmark Canada Iceland Switzerland Ireland Norway Turkey Mexico Poland Slovak Republic Hungary Czech Republic Portugal Greece Korea Spain New Zealand Italy European Union4 Germany Japan Netherlands Belgium United Kingdom France Finland Sweden Australia Austria Denmark Canada Iceland Switzerland Ireland Norway
- 19. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 12 Easing of entry controls and other competition-restraining regulations Given their comparatively restrictive policy stance in this area, recommendations to ease entry controls and other competition-restraining regulations were concentrated on the European Union and European member countries. The European Union has continued its effort to strengthen competition in the internal market. The draft services directive submitted to the European Parliament in April 2005 was in line with the recommendation to ease internal regulatory obstacles to cross-border trade and entry so as to strengthen competition. It remains to be seen to what extent the proposed competition-enhancing provisions will be enacted as they have raised concerns about “social dumping” from low-wage EU member countries and about the ability of national authorities to enforce national social protection legislation. The draft directive on ports introduced in late 2004 is also in line with the recommendation, although the phasing in of measures is planned over a very long period. As had been decided earlier, rail transportation for freight and passengers will be fully liberalised by 2007 and 2010, respectively, and competition in standard postal services will come into force in 2006. At the national level, most European countries have taken some measures that are in line with the country-specific priorities to relax competition-restraining measures: ● Barriers to entry and regulations on business operations in services and industries in general, and network industries and professional services in particular, are in the process of being eased in many of the countries where such action was considered to be a priority (Table 1.1). In some cases the reform process is at an early stage. In other countries, draft legislation has been introduced for discussion in parliaments or new laws have been enacted in the area. Figure 1.2. Labour productivity:1 level and growth 1. Measured as US dollar GDP in year 2000 PPPs per hour worked. Source: OECD, National Accounts of OECD Countries, 2005; and OECD, Employment Outlook, 2005. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 AUS AUT BEL CAN CHE CZE DEU DNK ESP FIN FRA GBR GRC HUN IRL ISL ITA JPN KOR LUX MEX NLD NOR NZL PRT SVK SWE TUR USA Average annual growth rates, 1994-2004 Level, thousands of US dollars, 1994
- 20. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 13 ● Administrative burdens in general, and on start-ups in particular, have been reduced through legislation or through other means in eight of the nine European countries for which action was called for in this domain (Table 1.2). In the remaining country, a review has been announced. The planned reform in the Netherlands, scheduled to be fully implemented in 2007, is particularly ambitious, aiming at cutting such costs by 25%. ● The extent and scope of public ownership has been reduced in most of the European countries where this was identified as a policy priority. Significant privatisation of government-owned commercial companies has continued in Finland and Poland. Less extensive opening up to private capital in government companies has taken place in Italy and Norway. Outside Europe, there has also been progress in reducing barriers to entry and competition-restraining controls in the few countries where this was identified as policy priority. In Japan, the recommended regulatory reform measures are being introduced on a nation-wide basis, and a new competition law, with greater penalties and stronger detection mechanisms, was voted by parliament in April. Regulatory reforms are also continuing in Korea, with a review of existing regulations scheduled over the coming two years. Table 1.1. Progress achieved in countries with recommendations to strengthen competition law, reduce entry controls and other competition-restraining regulations1 “x” denotes action 1. The table covers only countries with policy recommendations in the area listed. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 Reviews/laws announced Public consultation Draft legislation introduced Legislation concluded Other measures Strengthen competition law and enforcement Austria X Ireland X Reduce entry controls in services and/or industries in general Canada X Denmark X Japan X X Korea X Netherlands X Reduce entry controls in network industries Australia X France Greece X Hungary X Ireland X Korea Mexico X Portugal X Slovak Republic X Switzerland X Reduce entry controls in professional services Germany X Switzerland X
- 21. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 14 Agriculture Pending the outcome of the Doha trade round, no major initiatives to reduce high support to agriculture have been taken in the countries where such action was seen as a priority to raise GDP per capita. The failure to agree thus far on negotiating modalities at the WTO does not point to significant future movements in this area, and high support, albeit falling or remaining broadly constant in OECD countries in 2004 except in the United States and Korea (Table 1.3), looks set to persist on announced policies. However, some policy changes have been announced recently. For example, in the European Union, reductions in price support granted to sugar producers have been agreed, and further reductions in trade-distorting support, in particular, are being discussed. In the United States, some legislative changes have been announced to reduce assistance to farmers and further policy changes are being considered, in preparation for a new farm Bill, as the current Act will expire at the end of 2007. Moreover, in Japan, agricultural products have been included in a bilateral free trade agreement. Human capital Almost all countries for which strengthening some aspects of their education system was a policy priority have announced or taken relevant measures. In a few countries reforms are at an early stage. In other countries with a policy priority in the broad area of human capital improvement, the following policy changes have taken place: ● Curricula reforms at the secondary level (Iceland, Italy, Mexico and Portugal). Table 1.2. Progress achieved in countries with policy recommendations to reduce administrative costs and public ownership1 “x” denotes action 1. The table covers only countries with policy recommendations in the area listed. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 Reviews/laws announced Public consultation Draft legislation introduced Legislation concluded Other measures Reduce administrative burdens Austria X Belgium X Czech Republic X Greece X Hungary X Ireland X Netherlands X X Portugal X Turkey X Reform bankruptcy law and corporate governance Italy X X United States X Reduce the scope of public ownership Finland X Italy X Norway X Poland X Sweden Turkey X X
- 22. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 15 ● Establishment of nation-wide educational standards in some fields (Germany). ● Organisational changes to increase efficiency in general (Iceland and Mexico) or at the tertiary level in particular (Austria). ● More efforts to strengthen educational achievements of particular groups: ethnic minorities (Belgium, Germany and New Zealand) and girls (Turkey). ● Easier access to vocational education (Australia and Luxembourg). Other priorities and reforms Significant progress in reforms has also been recorded in other policy areas that were identified for several countries as important to strengthen their productivity performance: ● Public sector efficiency. All countries with an identified policy priority in this broad area have taken actions that are in line with the recommendations. Contestability has been raised in public services in the United Kingdom, new financial management arrangements have been introduced in Iceland and Turkey, new technology is being harnessed to simplify procedures in Luxembourg, a new staff management system (including performance-related pay and a new career management system) has been announced in Portugal, and a new law on public procurement is being prepared in Germany. ● FDI restrictions. Of the five countries with a priority to ease restrictions on foreign direct investment, Japan, Korea and New Zealand took some action in this area. There was also some progress in responding to policy recommendations that were concentrated on a smaller set of countries. Thus, measures have been taken, or are planned, to improve public infrastructure (New Zealand and the United Kingdom), reduce Table 1.3. Agriculture: Producer support estimate,1 2002-04 Percentage of gross farm receipts p: Provisional. n.c.: Not calculated. 1. The monetary value of transfers from consumers and budgetary payments to producers. Source: OECD, Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries: Monitoring and Evaluation, 2005. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 2002 2003 2004p Australia 5 4 4 Canada 21 25 21 Czech Republic 25 29 n.c. European Union 34 36 33 Hungary 33 28 n.c. Iceland 70 72 69 Japan 58 59 56 Korea 65 61 63 Mexico 26 19 17 New Zealand 2 2 3 Norway 74 72 68 Poland 19 8 n.c. Slovak Republic 21 25 n.c. Switzerland 73 71 68 Turkey 20 29 27 United States 18 15 18 OECD 31 30 30
- 23. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 16 capital income taxes (Canada), reform the financial sector (Japan and Korea), strengthen corporate governance and reform bankruptcy legislation (Italy and the United States) and ease planning and zoning restrictions (the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). Policies to increase labour utilisation Given their relatively low labour utilisation, corrective policy priorities in this area were concentrated on continental European countries. In many of these countries, labour force participation rates are relatively low, especially among older workers; levels of unemployment are relatively high; and annual working hours are shorter than in other OECD areas (Figure 1.3). Reforms to reduce disincentives to work were considered to be less pressing outside continental Europe. Nevertheless, policy priorities were identified for many countries outside continental Europe, most notably to slow the increase in the number of disability benefit recipients over the past decade and if possible reduce the numbers where these are already large. Recommendations in this area dealt with, in particular, the disincentives to work at older ages, the taxation of labour income in general and of low labour incomes in particular, employment protection legislation, and wage determination, especially for low-productivity workers. Financial disincentives to work at older ages Limited progress has been achieved in reducing the financial disincentives to work at older ages over the past year in those European countries where this was seen as a policy priority to increase GDP per capita. Some of these countries (Finland and Italy) had earlier taken significant, though insufficient, measures to reduce disincentives in either pension systems or de facto early retirement systems, and recent efforts have been concentrated on implementing these reforms. Other countries have introduced new reforms to lower disincentives. Germany will reduce the length of time to which older workers are entitled to unemployment benefits as of 2008, and the government plans to phase-in an increase in the statutory retirement age from 65 to 67 over a long period. Belgium will raise the minimum age limit for entry into the early retirement pension scheme. France has announced measures in early 2006 to increase the incentives to work at ages over 57. Austria has further reduced financial disincentives to work at older ages, in addition to aligning pension arrangements for public sector workers on those in the private sector. Norway has introduced a major pension reform, setting out the principles for the future evolution of the retirement system, but crucial elements affecting work incentives are being reconsidered. No recent moves towards reform of pension or other benefit systems have been recorded in Greece, Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic or Spain. Tax wedges Moves to reduce tax wedges on labour income in general, and on low income in particular, have been modest in most of the countries where such action was called for to stimulate growth. A few countries (Belgium, Denmark and Slovak Republic) have programmed or stated their intent to introduce tax cuts when the state of public finances allows. To create room to lower social security contributions, the Netherlands has made some changes in the unemployment benefit system. The lack of fiscal room prompted Hungary to limit de facto cuts in employer social security contribution to specific groups of workers. In the most recent period, Australia, Finland and Sweden have taken the strongest measures to lower tax wedges in line with the recommendations for these
- 24. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 17 Figure 1.3. Labour resource utilisation, 2004 1. Countries are ranked on the basis of their labour force participation rate. Source: OECD, Economic Outlook, No. 78; OECD, Labour Force Statistics, 2005; and OECD, Employment Outlook, 2005. StatLink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/727533324237 90 20 15 10 5 0 0 2 500 2 000 1 500 1 000 500 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 T U R H U N I T A P O L L U X M E X B E L K O R G R C S V K I R L F R A A U T C Z E E S P D E U F I N G B R U S A A U S N L D P R T J P N N Z L N O R C A N S W E D N K C H E I S L T U R H U N I T A P O L L U X M E X B E L K O R G R C S V K I R L F R A A U T C Z E E S P D E U F I N G B R U S A A U S N L D P R T J P N N Z L N O R C A N S W E D N K C H E I S L T U R H U N I T A P O L L U X M E X B E L K O R G R C S V K I R L F R A A U T C Z E E S P D E U F I N G B R U S A A U S N L D P R T J P N N Z L N O R C A N S W E D N K C H E I S L Labour force participation rate (share of population 15-64 years, per cent) Unemployment rate (per cent)1 Annual average hours worked per employee1
- 25. I.1. PROGRESS INRESPONDING TO THE 2005 POLICY PRIORITIES: OVERVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY REFORMS: GOING FOR GROWTH – ISBN 92-64-03591-5 – © OECD 2006 18 countries. In Australia, it reflected the comfortable budget situation; in Finland it was decided as part of an incomes policy agreement; and in Sweden, it was achieved by shifting the tax base towards green taxes. Italy has also taken measures to cut taxes on labour use over the coming three years. Germany recently announced a reduction in employers’ social security contributions together with an increase of indirect taxes. Labour market policies The modest progress in most European countries in reducing financial disincentives to work at older ages and cutting tax wedges also extends to other labour market policies: ● Employment protection legislation has remained unchanged in three of the five European countries where an easing was identified as a priority (Czech Republic, Portugal and Spain). However, France decided to repeal a tightening of statutory employment protection that had been decided but where implementation had been repeatedly postponed, and has recently extended to two years the length of the trial period for new recruits to firms with 20 employees or less and for workers of age under 26 who are recruited for the first time by a firm with more than 20 employees. Greece has recently abolished permanent contracts for new employers in all public entities and entreprises. ● Minimum labour costs are to be cut in France by eliminating remaining social security contributions at the level of the minimum wage by 2007, partly offsetting the impact of the significant increase in hourly minimum wages in mid-2005. In Poland, the increase in the statutory wage floor had been kept below overall wage increases, but the minimum wage is now set to rise relative to the average wage in the next few years. ● Wage bargaining arrangements have not changed in the three European countries where increased flexibility in wage determination was identified as a priority (Finland, Italy and Spain). ● Unemployment benefit systems reform has been initiated in Belgium with closer monitoring of entitlement conditions for recipients has been initiated in Belgium. On the other hand, no action has so far been taken in Finland or Luxembourg to reduce disincentives in their benefit systems. Outside Europe, some movements towards reforms in labour market policy areas have been recorded in the few countries where this was seen as a priority. This is notably the case in Australia, where a reform of the industrial relation system has been announced which would include changes in the determination of minimum wages (“award” wages). Canada has started pilot projects in high-unemployment areas to examine the impact of changes in entitlement conditions. With respect to employment protection legislation, a roadmap for reforms has been proposed by the authorities in Korea and is being discussed by the social partners; no legislative changes in this area have been announced in Japan. Reforming disability and sickness benefit systems Some progress has been achieved in reforming disability and/or sickness benefit systems in the nine countries where this was seen to be a key policy priority. A major reform of the disability benefit system in the Netherlands was decided in June 2005, including the abolition of benefits for those with modest disabilities and stronger financial incentives to work for those with residual work capacity. Elsewhere, actual changes have been less comprehensive, focusing on stronger medical guidelines for assessing disability (Denmark, Hungary); time limits on benefits without reviews and organisational changes
- 26. Discovering Diverse ContentThrough Random Scribd Documents
- 27. Danke, danke, meinteuerster Todeskandidat. (Zu Justus, der aufgestanden ist) Aber bitte doch Platz zu behalten. (Sich gleichfalls setzend, links des Tisches) Und bitte mich nicht mißzuverstehen. Todeskandidaten sind wir ja alle; Sie können mich noch gut überleben! — (Christians linkes Handgelenk nehmend, sich nach Anne umdrehend) Gelt, Schwester: der reine Methusalems-Puls! Sie messen den Blutdruck doch noch regelmäßig? A n n e Gewiß, Herr Geheimrat; er ist etwas niedriger. S a n i t ä t s r a t (während Anne hinausgeht) Natürlich! Blos Aufregung vermeiden! Bei Ihrer zähen Konstitution: wir werden schon wieder Lebensmut fassen! In der letzten Sitzung der Menschenfreunde hat man sogar darauf gewettet, Sie würden doch noch Mitglied werden. C h r i s t i a n Sehr gütig; aber einstweilen scheint mir, der ehrlichste Menschenfreund ist der T-Tod. S a n i t ä t s r a t Ja, der Mensch bleibt ewig ein Grillenfänger. C h r i s t i a n Haha-hörst du’s, Vetter? Jetzt muß ich’s wohl glauben. J u s t u s (lachend) Die Diagnose stellt dir Jeder! S a n i t ä t s r a t
- 28. „Jeder Wohlgesinnte!“ sagtder Herr Bürgermeister. (Zu Christian) Aber was hat denn der Biedermann? Begegnete mir bei der neuen Klinik und machte ein Gesicht wie ein Truthahn, als ich Ihren Namen nannte. C h r i s t i a n Ist Ihnen vielleicht auch der Akademie-D-Direktor bei der neuen Klinik begegnet? S a n i t ä t s r a t Aber Verehrtester, ruhig Blut! Sie werden sich doch nicht einbilden, ich hätte den Kitsch mit ausgeheckt? C h r i s t i a n Nein; aber jeder P-Pinsel bildet sich ein, er dürfe mich mit Berühmtheit beschmaddern, weil ich das selber schon reichlich besorgt habe. S a n i t ä t s r a t Ja, der Mensch ist von Natur größenwahnsinnig. Aber wiegesagt: nur nichts tragisch nehmen! (Zu Justus) Nicht wahr, Herr Leutnant, Sie werden das Ihre tun, uns die Grillen vertreiben zu helfen. J u s t u s Ja selbstverständlich! nach Kräften! mein Möglichstes! S a n i t ä t s r a t (aufstehend) Also dann: gesundes Fest allerseits! Und nicht wahr: wenn das Herzchen doch wieder muckt: sind ja nur drei Schritte zu mir hinüber. C h r i s t i a n (lächelnd, die Hand ins Leere schwenkend)
- 29. Mancher geht auchohne Schritte hinüber — S a n i t ä t s r a t Ohoh! solche Witze darf i c h blos machen. (Beiden Herren die Hand schüttelnd) Na wiegesagt: gesegnete Mahlzeit — (geht händereibend eilends ab) — — C h r i s t i a n Es scheint, die M-Menschenfreunde wollen mich jetzt zum eingebildeten Kranken stempeln. J u s t u s Das könnte dir doch nur angenehm sein. C h r i s t i a n Und wenn es mir nun — entsetzlich wäre? J u s t u s Über diese Annahme darf ich wohl lächeln. C h r i s t i a n Wenn ich dir aber nun eingestände, wie es mich manchmal ekelt und reut, daß ich mich nicht verurteilen ließ? wie es mich damals b- bohrend drängte, öffentlich für die Tat einzutreten, zu der mir, wie du jetzt gütigst meinst, g-glücklicherweise der Mut gefehlt hat? J u s t u s Dann müßtest du mir schon erlauben, auch d i e s e Einbildung zu belächeln. C h r i s t i a n Auch wenn ich w-wirklich gemordet hätte? J u s t u s
- 30. Dann doch erstrecht, bei deiner Gemütsart. C h r i s t i a n Bei meiner Feigheit, willst du wohl sagen. J u s t u s Nein, in diesem Falle: bei deiner Verstocktheit. C h r i s t i a n Sehr schmeichelhaft, daß du die für so stark hältst. Aber die Reue kann ebenso stark sein, selbst im verstocktesten Missetäter. Dein bewunderter Bonaparte zum Beispiel: Haha-Hunderttausende hat er skrupellos auf seinen Schlachtfeldern umgebracht, aber der eine Duc d’Enghien, den er hi-hinterlistig hinrichten ließ, der wurmte ihn noch auf Sankt-Helena, trotz aller staatsklugen Entschuldigungsgründe. Die Vernunft mag noch so zielbewußt über das Gewissen hinwegschreiten, das Gemüt l-läßt sich nicht hintergehen. J u s t u s Nun, du merkst wohl, ich sprach dir blos zu Munde. Da es dir Spaß macht, dich selbst zu narren, will ich kein Spielverderber sein. C h r i s t i a n Also du hältst mich nicht für verstockt? J u s t u s Sonst hättest du doch wohl kaum die Absicht, grade mir einen Liebesdienst anzuvertrauen. C h r i s t i a n (lächelnd)
- 31. Sehr freundlich, daßdu mich erinnerst. (Das versiegelte Heft wieder vorholend) Aber darf ich dich erst noch bitten, mir mit deiner m- möglichsten Offenheit eine Frage zu beantworten? J u s t u s Und —? C h r i s t i a n Gesetzt, ich hä-hätte den Mut gehabt, den du mir ehrlicherweise absprichst, — gesetzt, ich hätte t-trotzdem die Reue, die du mir anstandshalber nicht zutraust, — (schwer die Hand auf das Heft legend) gesetzt, ich würde es dir b e w e i s e n — unter vier Augen, lieber Vetter — nicht vor Zeugen, Herr Ki-Kriminalkommissar —: wärest du dann noch bereit zu dem Liebesdienst? J u s t u s Wie kann ich das wissen — ohne Beweis — C h r i s t i a n Ist mein Anblick dir nicht Beweis genug?! — J u s t u s Ich muß wohl verstummen, wenn du so fragst. C h r i s t i a n Du meinst, ein Verbrecher verdient kein Vertrauen? J u s t u s Wenn er bereut, vertraut ihm sogar der Richter. C h r i s t i a n Und wenn dich nun ein solcher Verbrecher, dem die Reue aus jeder Grimasse stiert, den sie t-tausendfältig härter gestraft hat, als
- 32. irgend ein Richterstrafen kann — wenn dich der nun unter vier Augen bäte: (wieder die Hand auf das Heft legend) hier ist mein Geständnis, vernichte es! du hältst meine Seele in der Hand! du kannst sie aus der Verzweiflung retten! du siehst, es foltert mich stückweis zu T-Tode, daß ich ein einzig Mal unmenschlich war! du gibst mir den Glauben ans L-Leben zurück, ans Ewige Leben, an Gott und die Menschheit, w e n n d u m - m e n s c h l i c h e r h a n d e l s t a l s i c h — J u s t u s (die Hand nach dem Heft ausstreckend) Ich soll es also — ins Feuer werfen — C h r i s t i a n (überläßt es ihm lächelnd) Ja, Justus — zum Christfest wiegesagt — — J u s t u s (steht auf, macht einige Schritte nach dem Kamin hin, wendet sich plötzlich ruckhaft um) Und du denkst, so lasse ich mich begimpeln? Du bildest dir ein, ich durchschau nicht dein Lächeln? Du glaubst, du kannst mich (nach dem Porträt weisend) beschwatzen wie d i e da und dann mich auslachen wie noch nie? Du Narr, der Andre zu narren meint! — (Den Umschlag von den Heftblättern reißend und ihn vor Christians Füße schleudernd) Hier: s o behandle ich dein Geständnis! kraft meines Amtes, du Auswurf der Menschheit! — (Hastig die Blätter musternd) Was? — wa — (steht in sprachloser Verblüfftheit da) — C h r i s t i a n Nun? Was sagt dir das leere Papier? — J u s t u s (die Blätter zerfetzend und wegschmeißend)
- 33. Ah, du Jammergestalt,du schandschnäuzige! (Mit geballten Fäusten auf Christian los) Du bist ja die raffinierteste Viper, die je den Erdball begeifert hat! (Vor Christians Blick zurückzuckend) Wenn mir nicht graute, dich anzurühren, ich schlüg dir die Zähne aus dem Giftmaul! (Die Fäuste in die Hüften stemmend) Ist denn kein Funken Scham in dir, so mein heiligstes Pflichtgefühl zu verhöhnen? C h r i s t i a n (endlich gell loslachend) Ha-ha-ha-hei — dein hei — hahahei — (plötzlich krampfhaft nach Luft ringend, lallend) heili — ha-heili — ha-hilf — hilf! J u s t u s Dir —? C h r i s t i a n (röchelnd) H i l f, Justus! ich dank dir’s! ich sterbe! ich fühl’s! J u s t u s Dann stirb, Giftmischer! C h r i s t i a n (mit brechender Stimme, unsäglich lächelnd) Hab Dank, du — M-Mörder! (er sinkt zusammen) — J u s t u s (sich an die Brust fassend) Ich —? — (Hart, mit abwälzender Handbewegung) Lächerlich! — (Er geht erhobenen Hauptes zur Tür; öffnet, ruft) Anne! Schwester Anne! — (Sie kommt, er zeigt auf Christian) Sehen Sie nach, ob noch zu helfen ist; ich möchte den Arzt nicht unnütz bemühen.
- 34. A n ne (auf die Papierfetzen deutend) Was ist geschehen? War d a s die Versöhnung? J u s t u s Rasch! helfen Sie lieber! Mir scheint, er regt sich — A n n e (rechts des Tisches sich über Christian beugend, während Justus sich links auf die Stuhllehne stützt) Das Herz, das klopft noch — — C h r i s t i a n (traumhaft) Anne, bist D u ’ s —? A n n e Ja, Herr Christian, ich; — nur still — nur nit bang — C h r i s t i a n Sie sollen mich nicht so ansehn alle! A n n e Nein, Herr Christian, niemand — nur ich! — (Sich aufrichtend, mit unabweisbarer Frage) Herr Justus —? J u s t u s (von ihrem Blick bezwungen) Ja, dann ist’s meine Pflicht, den Arzt zu rufen — (geht gesenkten Hauptes hinaus) — — C h r i s t i a n
- 35. Sind wir allein,Anne? A n n e Ganz allein — (sie legt ihren Arm um seine Schultern) — C h r i s t i a n Ich seh noch immer die Augen alle — — nicht M- Menschenaugen — A n n e Engelaugen — — C h r i s t i a n Sie wollen alle, ich soll es s-sagen — — nur einmal sagen — A n n e Dann ist’s gesühnt — — C h r i s t i a n Ich — hörst du, Anne? A n n e G o t t will es hören — — C h r i s t i a n Ich — hilf doch, Anne! A n n e Nur Gott kann helfen — — C h r i s t i a n Ich — ich — haha-habe — — (jäh sich aufbäumend, schreiend) N e i n, Gott — (sich ans Herz greifend, selig lächelnd) ich nicht! — (er stürzt mit dem
- 36. Gesicht auf denTisch) — — A n n e (faßt ihn bang bei der Schulter) Herr Christian — lieber Herr Christian — — (neigt ihr Ohr an seine linke Seite, kniet dann ehrfürchtig neben ihm nieder, faltet die Hände zu stillem Gebet) — — J u s t u s (öffnet horchend die Tür, läßt sie offen, tritt leise ein, nähert sich verhalten dem Tisch, wartet bis Anne sich erhebt; dann mit heiser drängender Stimme) Hat er gebeichtet? was hat er gesagt? — (Da Anne zurückweicht, barsch auf sie los) Was hat er gesagt? ich treib Sie zum Zeugeneid! A n n e (noch einen Schritt zurücktretend, hoheitsvoll nach der Tür weisend) Gehen Sie endlich, Sie armer Mensch! — (Justus, langsam sich an die Brust fassend, starrt auf den Toten) — (Vorhang)
- 37. Michel Michael Komödie inVersen Zweite Ausgabe
- 38. P e rs o n e n: M i c h e l M i c h a e l, ein deutscher Bergarbeiter. L i s e L i e d, sein Mündel. D i e F r a u V e n u s . Ty l l E u l e n s p i e g e l . D e r g e t r e u e E c k a r t . D e r K a i s e r R o t b a r t . D e r r o t e K a r l, ein Sozialdemokrat. D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l, ein Ultramontaner. D e r B e r g r a t . D e r L a n d r a t . D e r B ü r g e r m e i s t e r. D i e F r a u B ü r g e r m e i s t e r i n . Ein Kaplan. Ein Pastor. Drei Maschinenheizer. Polizisten. Kobolde. Leute in Masken. Z e i t u n d O r t: Eine Johannisnacht in einer mitteldeutschen Kreisstadt. (Rechts und links immer vom Zuschauer aus.)
- 39. E u le n s p i e g e l a l s V o r r e d n e r (von rechts kommend, in roter Gugeltracht mit Pritsche): Meine allergnädigsten Damen und sehr verehrlichen Herrn! Sie werden mirs wohl glauben: ich gefiele Ihnen gern. Aber mein Herr, der Dichter, hat mich leider ausersehn, Jedem eine Nase zu drehn. Wer weiß, vielleicht dreh ich ihm selber auch eine; indessen diese Nase hat — lange Beine. Zunächst nämlich soll ich mich erfrechen, über den Gang der Handlung im Voraus mit Ihnen zu sprechen. Sie sehn’s schon an mir, und merken mit Gruseln: huh, hier gehts offenbar geheimnisvoll zu. Meine Maske hat weder Haut noch Haar, blos ein unverschämtes Allerweltsspiegellöcherpaar (er weist auf seine Augen) und einen Schlitz für diese meine Zunge (er streckt sie heraus) — und darunter, ganz im Dunkeln, hängt mein Herz und meine Lunge. Damit mach ich meistens nichts weiter als den Wind, in den meine Worte gesprochen sind. Denn mit Worten, da die Worte im Kopf entstehn, kann der Mensch zwar herrlich andern Menschen den Kopf verdrehn; aber da es in der Welt, die sich um uns dreht, dennoch nicht nach unserm Kopf zugeht, so verläuft der Gang der Handlung auf den 2 mal 5 Beinen der Hauptpersonen, ausschließlich der meinen. Ich bin also kein großschnäuziger Tugendschweinigel, sondern heiße Tyll — mit Ypsilon bitte — Eulenspiegel; das heißt, ich husche als närrischer Kauz durch die Welt, der sich und andre närrische Käuze mit seinem Doppelspiegel prellt —
- 40. (er weist wiederauf seine Augen). Was für Nebenpersonen noch drin herumlaufen, das ist ein kaum zu zählender Haufen; denn zu den Nebenpersonen um jede Menschenseele herum gehört bekanntlich das ganze p. p. Publikum — (er verbeugt sich). Manche Person ist übrigens eigentlich keine; und zwei der Hauptpersonen sind im Grunde nur eine. Manche andre zählt mindestens fürn paar Schock; und die hauptpersönlichste natürlich steckt in Jedermanns Rock. Kurz, jegliche Seele tut alles, was sie kann; aha! es scheint, sie fangen schon an. V i e r s t i m m i g e r G e s a n g m i t L a u t e n s p i e l (hinterm Vorhang): Wir tragen alle ein Licht durch die Nacht, unter Tag. E u l e n s p i e g e l (horcht und spricht parodierend nach): Sie tragen alle ein Licht durch die Nacht. G e s a n g: Wir träumen von unerschöpflicher Pracht, über Tag. E u l e n s p i e g e l
- 41. (wie vorher): Sie träumenvon unerschöpflicher Pracht. G e s a n g: Wir helfen ein Werk tun, ist keins ihm gleich; Glückauf! E u l e n s p i e g e l: Sie helfen ein Werk tun, ist keins ihm gleich. G e s a n g: Wir machen das Erdreich zum Himmelreich; Glückauf! E u l e n s p i e g e l: Sie machen das Erdreich zum Himmelreich. Da verkriech ich mich schleunigst, ich armer Schuft; sonst sprengen sie mich am End in die Luft. (Er dreht eine Nase, wickelt sich in den Vorhang, und diesen mit wegziehend verschwindet er rechts).
- 42. Erster Aufzug (B il d: Altes kleines Landhaus mit Obstgärtchen. Rechts Wald und Gartenzaun. Links hinten das Haus. Vorn entlang Landstraße. An der Hauswand links ein Wegweiser, dessen drei Arme folgende Aufschriften tragen: Zur Stadt, Zur Grube, Feldweg. Am Gartentisch sitzen M i c h e l M i c h a e l, der r o t e K a r l und der s c h w a r z e K a r l; daneben steht L i s e L i e d mit der Laute, in hellgrünem Sommerkleid und weißer Schürze.)
- 43. L i se L i e d (singt bei offener Bühne weiter, während die Andern nur den Kehrreim mitsummen): Einst fiel alles Leben vom Himmel herab, über Tag. Wir Bergleute schürfen’s aus dem Grab, unter Tag. Wir fördern’s herauf, das tote Gestein; Glückauf! Wir machen’s wieder zu Sonnenschein; Glückauf! (Die Männer stoßen mit ihren großen Schnapsgläsern an und trinken sie leer). M i c h e l M i c h a e l (in schwarzer Gamaschenhose und weißem Hemd mit offenem Halskragen): So, Lise, nun hol uns noch jedem so ein Glas; denn die Bergmannskehle L i s e: Weiß schon: ist mehr trocken als naß. O Michel! — M i c h e l: Blos heut mal so’n kleinen Seelenwärmer; morgen fließt wieder Milch und Sauerbrunn durch die Därmer. Man muß sich doch für das nächtliche Fest vorbereiten.
- 44. L i se: Ja, und dann stöhnt ihr über die schweren Zeiten. (Sie geht mit den Gläsern und der Laute ins Haus.) D e r r o t e K a r l (trägt gewöhnlichen schwarzen Jackettanzug, schwarzen Schlapphut und rote Krawatte): Also willst du wirklich nachher aufs Johannisfest? M i c h e l: Warum n i c h t? D e r r o t e K a r l: O blos: weil der Michel sonst sich zehnmal bitten läßt, eh er einmal kommt. Aber ja: der Herr Bergrat hat’s gewunschen, da ists freilich ratsam, sich untertänigst mitzubepunschen. Sicher wittert man’s da oben so gut wie ich: manche Stimme in der Knappschaft schwört auf dich. Hast ein eigen Haus, bist bald Vorhäuer, kannst Leute dingen, möchtest dich gewiß gar zum Steiger aufschwingen; wirst morgen für ’ne Stütze von Thron und Altar gelten, und der Bergrat M i c h e l: Hör mal, roter Karl: den lass ich nicht schelten. Er meint’s leutselig mit uns Arbeitern allzumal.
- 45. Er bezahlt auchheute Nacht wieder Musik und Saal. D e r r o t e K a r l: Sehr wahr! und in vier Wochen ist Reichstagswahl. Du Schäfersohn läßt dir leicht was vormusizieren. D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l (trägt gleichfalls schwarzen Jackettanzug, aber steifen Hut, schwarze Krawatte und eine auffällig große Hornbrille mit dunkelblauen Gläsern): Ja, ich meine auch: man muß sich doch wohl etwas salvieren. Ich sage nichts gegen den Regierungskandidaten, aber der Herr Bergrat privatim ist doch sozusagen ein Teufelsbraten. Nicht etwa weil er — obzwar: auch das ist bedeutungsvoll — ’ne jüdische Urgroßmutter gehabt haben soll. Aber was man so im stillen von seinem Lebenswandel hört — D e r r o t e K a r l: Du, hörst du’s, Michel? der Schwarze ist christlich empört! Fraglos ist er einzig drum aus der Stadt gekommen, um hier dem Heil deiner armen Seele zu frommen. (Lise kommt mit den gefüllten Schnapsgläsern wieder.) D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l: Hoffte allerdings, Sie, Herr Namensvetter, nicht anzutreffen. D e r r o t e K a r l (sein Glas nehmend):
- 46. Ja, gottvoll, wiesich die Menschen äffen. D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l (ebenso): Nun, Gevatter Michael weiß, welche Tiere am lautesten kläffen. M i c h e l (mit ihnen anstoßend): Holla! Frieden, ihr Karle! Gäste solln sich vertragen! Muß ich junger Kerl das euch beiden alten sagen? Hie Knappschaft! Glückauf! Jeder Knappe im Schacht nehm sich vor falschen Wettern in Acht! D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l: Glückauf, Jungfer Lise! auf das schöne Lied vom Himmel. L i s e (während die Männer trinken): O, das ist am schönsten o h n e euer Kümmelgebimmel. M i c h e l: Sieh mal, roter Karl: deine Zukunftsrepublik, das ist doch auch ’ne Art Rattenfängermusik. Und sehn Sie, schwarzer Karl: Ihr Ewigkeitsparadies lockt wohl erst recht die liebe Maus zur Mies. Und derweil ihr Pfiffikusse so die Gegenwart vexiert, hat der dumme Michel sie längst sehre anderst kapiert.
- 47. Denkt ihr, ichwill blos drum heut aufs Maskenfest, weil der Bergrat da ein paar Sektproppen tanzen läßt? dann tät ich mich lieber mit euch hier draußen besaufen. Nein, ich will mein Haus an die Grubengesellschaft verkaufen und in die Stadt ziehn, werte Zeitgenossen! L i s e: Michel, nein! M i c h e l: Ja, Lise; das ist nun mal beschlossen. (Er langt ein paar Schriftstücke aus der Brusttasche.) Hier, ich hab schon alles mit dem Rechtsanwalt aufgesetzt, und der Bergrat ist kein Knicker; besonders jetzt, wo sie doch die Vorstadtzeche weiter austeufen wollen und Platz brauchen für den neuen Wetterstollen, da wird er heut Nacht bei’ner Buddel Wein gern zu sprechen sein und mir die werte Unterschrift geben. Potz Taler, Lise! sollst sehn, das wird ein Leben! Na, was machst du denn fürn Sechsdreiergesicht? L i s e: Mir ist bang um dich, Michel. O bitte, tu’s nicht! M i c h e l: Achgottedoch! daß dir’s Herzchen nur nicht bricht!
- 48. g Brennst doch sonstdrauf, mit in die Stadt zu fluttschen. L i s e: Aber für immer? M i c h e l: Für immer tut kein Weibsbild muckschen. (Er nimmt ihre Hand.) Weißt du: wenn wir Abends hier manchmal so einsam sitzen und ich seh da drüben im Tal den großen Lichterknäul blitzen, die Bahnkörperlampen, die Schaufenster, die Straßenlaternen, wie sie wetteifern mit den Sternen, und was hinter den erleuchteten Scheiben all die tausend Menschenköpfe wohl sinnen und treiben, was für Strahlen hin-und-herzucken zwischen ihnen aus den wunderlichen Instrumenten, Apparaten, Maschinen, elektrischen Drähten — (er erhebt sich) ich kann’s garnicht ganz sagen, wie das strahlt — und mittendurch rollen funkelnd die Wagen, wodrin Hoch und Niedrig zusammen übers Pflaster jagen, zu Festsälen, Theatern, Bibliotheken, Klubs, Volkshallen, kann sich jedermann immer höher bilden mit Allen — ja, dann fühl ichs wild: da b e w e g t sich die Welt! so wild, du, daß mirs manchmal die Stirnadern schwellt! (Er setzt sich und nimmt einen großen Schluck.) D e r r o t e K a r l: Ja, Fräulein Lise: Sie können’s noch nicht ermessen: in der Stadt, da erwacht der Mensch zu edlern Interessen.
- 49. de Stadt, dae ac t de e sc u ed e te esse (Er nimmt gleichfalls einen großen Schluck.) D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l: Ja —! Nämlich auch die Kirchen nicht zu vergessen! (Er trinkt sein Glas leer.) M i c h e l (auf die Schriftstücke hauend): Kurzum, ich will mehr, als mein väterlich Erbteil begaffen, ich will mir auf eigne Faust meinen Fußboden schaffen; d a s ist mein Intresse! Jawohl! Wirst es auch noch kapieren; wirst vielleicht dereinst noch in seidnen Kleidern stolzieren, in Glaßeehandschuhen und Diamanten und ausländischen Spitzen, und an Einer Tafel mit dem Bergrat sitzen. Also Kopf hoch, Lise! maul nicht! du übertreibst es. L i s e: O Michel, du bist ein Träumer — und bleibst es. M i c h e l: Hat noch niemand unter meinen Träumen gelitten. (Er trinkt Rest mit dem roten Karl.) Komm, bring uns lieber noch solchen lütten dritten und sing eins! D e r s c h w a r z e K a r l:
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