Pension Reform 2026: Jörg Rocholl on the Future of the State Pension
The future of the state pension is one of Germany’s most significant political and economic challenges. In light of demographic change, the question arises as to how the pension system can be financed in the long term and structured in a way that is fair to all generations.
In the latest edition of our ‘Chat Club Aktuell’, Prof. Dr Jörg Rocholl, President of ESMT Berlin and a member of the Pension Commission, talks to Roland Vestring about the proposals in the current pension package and their significance for the future of retirement provision.
Why pension reform can only work as a comprehensive package
In the interview, Jörg Rocholl explains why the Pension Commission’s recommendations were deliberately developed as a coherent reform package. Whilst individual measures might provide short-term relief, they only achieve their full effect when implemented in conjunction with one another.
Among other things, this involves strengthening the funded basis of the state pension, a possible insurance scheme for the working population, and the question of how political majorities for long-term reforms can be secured.
Academic perspectives on the future of old-age provision
In addition to the specific reform proposals, Jörg Rocholl provides insights into the work of the Pension Commission. He describes how a broad consensus emerged within a few months and the role that academic analyses and empirical findings played in shaping the recommendations.