Why don't construction prices go down?

Overtime okay. But you give up a constant salary increase because you have to pay taxes? Really?
In the end, you would have to calculate in reverse logic how much the progression would have to change until tax savings and gross increase are balanced. I don't know anyone who does that.

Agreed. I never understood the logic behind why the minimum wage threshold shouldn't also be the tax-free threshold. Social contributions still exist anyway.

From a certain income onwards, I would actually have to think hard about whether I would not rather exchange (more) money for (more) time, meaning simply reduce working hours. At some point, the marginal utility would be reached for me anyway. We ordinary citizens will never get rich through dependent employment in this country anyway, so whether I have a gross income of 150k p.a. or 200k p.a. today probably makes no difference to me anymore.

What actually annoys me is the fact of how taxes and contributions of citizens are handled in this country. You don’t get the impression at all that politicians handle the money with care or would manage the budget as if it were their own. This all-inclusive mentality, which now prevails in many departments, has simply gotten completely out of hand during the legislative period. Everyone wants to push through everything and ideally not give up anything, no matter the cost. Ultimately, the government broke apart because of this, and the black (yellow) Peter (blame) was quickly assigned. Of course, that’s an easy way to handle things.

From a certain income onwards, I would actually have to think hard about whether I might prefer to exchange (more) money for (more) time, in other words, simply reduce working hours.

However, for me, this is actually quite independent of the tax rates. No idea whether they intensify the effect or not. Could be, but I can't judge. But one way or another, more money does not mean more happiness.

This full coverage mentality, which now prevails in many departments, has simply completely spiraled out of control over the course of the legislative period.

No problem. Just say what should NOT be done and/or who should NOT be considered anymore in the future and survive the following wave of outrage. By the way, the wave of outrage is caused by the citizens. No wonder we get politicians like the ones we have. I, for example, think systemically: D should become more competitive. Everyone says that. It is a synonym. In other words, it means: demand from abroad. So our old business model as export (surplus!) world champion is supposed to be somehow saved. Now, foolishly, both big players immediately say that they counteract that and do their own thing. We were this world champion because others took on the debts we didn’t want to make. Now there still shouldn’t be any debts, and yet the economy is supposed to keep running somehow. I take the liberty to consider that completely crazy. I’d rather vote for the least crazy ones, no matter whether they now call for full coverage or not.

However, you can only step on the municipality's toes. While it does not make the regulations for the tender, it is to blame that no investments have been made since 1981. And yes, it is very difficult for the municipalities to raise the necessary equity to call up the shares from the state. However, it is possible.
Although it is not absurd, it is really bad. Toilets should still work.

It is especially absurd to accuse elementary school children of not taking care of things. When the things themselves are shouting from ten meters away how little the children are valued. And how little adults apparently care about repairs. We had a girl in a first-grade class who wet her pants several times because she was so disgusted by the toilets that she simply couldn’t go. By the way, the teachers’ toilets were slightly renovated a few years ago, but they are still hardly better than a roadside toilet. But at least they are no longer broken. And then the community spirit and the sense of responsibility and commitment of the parents are killed by administrative regulations.

From a certain income level, I would really have to think hard about whether I wouldn’t rather exchange (more) money for (more) time, meaning simply reducing working hours. (...)

However, from a certain income level, this question no longer arises. Our salaried employees get their targets and they have to meet them. If they can do that in 20 hours a week, fine. But of course the employer is not stupid and sets the targets in such a way that you need at least 40, rather 50 hours a week to achieve them. Beyond a certain number of weekly hours, you are no longer interesting for some tasks, especially with personnel or project responsibility. You can’t really use a project manager whom I can only reach from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or alternatively only from Monday to Wednesday.

And the school toilets were already catastrophic when I started elementary school in 1990. The flush would sometimes run for a whole week and the janitor just commented, “Well, at least it’s running...” I still remember that to this day.

Basically, since the early 1970s, after the reconstruction in the Federal Republic was largely completed, we have been living off the substance. That is something that the boomers and Gen X can definitely be blamed for.

Back to the topic. Was at an interesting conference today. Also with comparisons to abroad (especially NL) and regarding serial construction. Obviously, it largely aligns with my clientele - project developers, property holders, etc.

Social housing in NL is about half as expensive as in D. But still with appealing architecture. Standard house approvals. Very flexible building options. Less regulation (e.g., there are no development plans there, but rather environment plans, which possibly apply to the entire municipality - basically a [34er] area as a standard). Significantly lower standards are possible and accepted by tenants/owners (thinner walls and ceilings possible, exposed wiring as a possible state of the art, to name just two examples).

Additionally, a colleague from a relatively new modular builder operating in D was present (they have just built over 700 student apartments in modular construction in Bochum - highest modular high-rises in the EU - construction costs are approx. 20% lower than conventional construction). Besides the significantly lower costs, KfW40 NH/QNG or however the certificates will be named in the future are easy to achieve, there is a buy-back guarantee on demolition (= cradle to cradle in perfection or cheaper material input in 50 years and payment of this material to the owner). It is also possible for single-family house plots, but only as a standardized product (like German townhouse or similar), in which a complete floor of a townhouse including bathrooms, tiles, switches, parquet etc. is fully produced in the factory. Construction defects are extremely low, construction time extremely short.

It was very interesting and showed possible ways, provided the framework conditions are ever created.

Serial / modular construction in NL For example, a refugee home with 141 apartments in three months construction time.



Or a temporary townhouse settlement in four months construction time