Tierschutzpartei on the economy

The Tierschutzpartei wants an additional tax on companies' unusually high windfall profits. In addition, the top salary in a company should be no more than 20 times the lowest one. The reasoning is that profits should not come at the expense of employees and the environment.

Some companies make very high profits by chance. The party wants an extra tax on these profits. Bosses should earn at most 20 times what the lowest-paid worker in the company earns.

The platform defines windfall profits as profits that turn out unusually high because of random outside events. The party sees such profits in recent years mainly in the energy sector and in industries that harm the climate. The pay cap would be tied to the lowest wage in the respective company. Corporations that, in the party's view, make poor business decisions and neglect their workers should not be bailed out by the state.

The Tierschutzpartei wants to cut subsidies for industry and agriculture when they are considered environmentally harmful, unethical, or not viable in the future. The money saved would go toward new jobs and retraining for the workers affected.

The state gives money to some companies and farms. The party wants to stop this when it harms the environment. The money saved should create new jobs. Affected workers should get training and support.

The phase-out is to be socially acceptable. The funds saved would create jobs and pay for training, support, and provision for people working in the affected industries. The party aims for shorter working hours in favor of vocational training. Paid training time without wage cuts would be required by law.

The Tierschutzpartei wants an economic system measured by quality of life and satisfaction rather than growth. It commits to a post-growth economy and the Economy for the Common Good. Animals and nature should receive rights of their own.

The economy should not have to keep growing. What matters should be how well people are doing. Buying less should not be a disadvantage. Animals and nature should have their own rights too.

Building on a post-growth economy, a sufficiency strategy would be developed, meaning an approach based on lower consumption. Consuming less should not be seen as a step backward or a loss of status. The party wants to advance the goals of the Economy for the Common Good at all political levels: ecological sustainability, social justice, democratic participation, and transparency. Sentient beings should be recognized as individuals with rights, and nature should be given the status of a legal subject.

The Tierschutzpartei wants to block free trade agreements such as TTIP, CETA, JEFTA and the one with Mercosur. Standards for workers, consumers, the environment and animals are not to be weakened. Such agreements should be put to referendums.

The Tierschutzpartei opposes big trade deals with other countries. It fears weaker rules for work, the environment and animals. The people should vote on such deals. The negotiations should be public.

As examples, the platform names the agreements with the United States, Canada, Japan and the South American Mercosur countries. The negotiations are to be disclosed. The public would decide on them in referendums.

The Tierschutzpartei wants to introduce a right to repairability for technical devices and subsidize sustainable products. Manufacturers are to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products and for human rights in the supply chain. Subsidies for sectors that harm the environment or cause animal suffering are to be phased out.

The Tierschutzpartei wants devices to be repairable. People should have a right to that. Eco-friendly products should become cheaper. Companies with poor, short-lived products should face disadvantages. Harmful sectors should get no more state money.

Manufacturers are to account for and offset disposal, recycling, transport and packaging. Those who accept animal suffering in production are to pay penalties. Companies with demonstrably short-lived products are to be put at a financial disadvantage, while those with especially durable ones can apply for bonuses. Subsidies are meant to make it cheaper to buy a fair-trade smartphone or have an old one repaired. The party also wants to promote urban gardening with community beds and kitchens as well as school gardens.