Editing Angela Merkel (section)

=== Fiscal policy ===
In 2009, Merkel announced plans to take on additional government debt in order to stimulate economic growth, arguing that this should take priority over other fiscal concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2009 |title=Merkel verteidigt Schulden- und Steuerpolitik |url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.merkur.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Merkel government's tax policy at the time was widely criticised, mostly for taking on additional debt instead of increasing tax rates at high levels of income.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2010 |title=Analysis: Merkel under pressure to raise tax for rich Germans |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703084333/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 November 2009 |title=Recession Upends German Zeal for Fiscal Prudence (Published 2009) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |last1=Schwartz |first1=Nelson D. |last2=Dempsey |first2=Judy |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, Merkel expressed support for a global financial transaction tax, but was ultimately unsuccessful in international negotiations on the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bank levy defeated |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325104139/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2010 |title=Sarkozy, Merkel call for bank levy, financial transactions tax |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=France 24 |archive-date=16 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616145627/https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Merkel argued for the importance of a [[Government budget balance|balanced government budget]], rejecting calls for additional investment to stimulate growth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2019 |title=Germany sticking to balanced budget goal, Merkel says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911081026/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |url-status=live}}</ref>