this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2025
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Gratis higher education access is not a good indicator for social mobility, especially in Germany where that access is largely in theory only and has been gatekept already at elementary school level for a long time. I don't like to say so, as it is a common talking point by the right-wing, but the data is quite clear that in Germany at least gratis higher education is mostly just benefiting the already relatively well off and in effect is a net wealth transfer from poorer to richer households.
I am not saying that inequality is worse in Germany than in the US. It is about the same, but with different characteristics. And a lot of the social security net in Germany (as well intended as it might be) actually cements people's position in poverty, just slightly less bad poverty than you would see in countries without such a social security system. For example the health insurance payments are mandatory in Germany... and while they are still affordable by many people with stable jobs, for many people with precarious jobs or other issues they basically force them into the lowest rank social security system and to sell off all the assets they might own before that. So you end up with people that no matter what they try can't exit this poverty trap and the road to hell is paved with good intentions.