Editing Willy Brandt (section)

=== Chancellor of domestic reform ===
Although Brandt is perhaps best known for his achievements in foreign policy, his government oversaw the implementation of a broad range of social reforms, and was known as a "Kanzler der inneren Reformen" ('Chancellor of domestic reform').<ref name="Radice">{{harvp|Radice|Radice|1986}}</ref> According to the historian [[David Childs]], "Brandt was anxious that his government should be a reforming administration and a number of reforms were embarked upon".<ref name="Childs">{{harvp|Childs|1992}}</ref> Within a few years, the education budget rose from 16 billion to 50 billion DM, while one out of every three DM spent by the new government was devoted to welfare purposes. As noted by the journalist and historian [[Marion Dönhoff]],

"People were seized by a completely new feeling about life. A mania for large-scale reforms spread like wildfire, affecting schools, universities, the administration, and family legislation. In the autumn of 1970 [[Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski]] of the SPD declared, 'Every week more than three plans for reform come up for decision in cabinet and in the Assembly.'"<ref name="Dönhoff">{{harvp|Dönhoff|1982}}</ref>

Federal spending rose significantly under Brandt;<ref>[https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/view/10324 Adnan Yaseen Hussein, & Wisam Ali Thabet. (2021). Economic reforms of the Willy Brandt government 1969-1972. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, 18(10), 3132-3145. Retrieved from https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/view/10324]</ref> increasing by an average of 12% per year between 1970 and 1974, with most of the additional spending allocated to transport, education and welfare.<ref>[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Politics_of_the_New_Germany/u-7FBQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=The+SPD-FDP+government+under+Willy+Brandt+presided+over&pg=PT153&printsec=frontcover The Politics of the New Germany By Simon Green, Publisher: Taylor & Francis, 2013]</ref> During Brandt's time in office, social expenditure rose from one quarter to a third of GDP.<ref>''The Federal Republic of Germany: The End of an Era'' edited by Ewa Kolinsky, P.228-229</ref>

According to [[Helmut Schmidt]], Willy Brandt's domestic reform programme had accomplished more than any previous programme for a comparable period.<ref name="Braunthal">{{harvp|Braunthal|1994}}</ref> Levels of social expenditure were increased,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Publications/pdf/c-c17.pdf |title=The Population of the Federal Republic of Germany |website=Cicred.org |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> with more funds allocated towards housing, transportation, schools, and communication,<ref name="Prittie"/> and substantial federal benefits were provided for farmers.<ref name="Binder">{{harvp|Binder|1975}}</ref> Various measures were introduced to extend health care coverage,<ref>{{cite book | title = Health Care Systems in Transition: Germany | url = http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/80776/E68952.pdf | publisher = European Observatory on Health Care Systems, World Health Organization | access-date = 14 December 2012 | archive-date = 13 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110513054407/http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/80776/E68952.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> while federal aid to sports organisations was increased.<ref name="Binder"/> A number of social reforms were instituted<ref name="Sinn">{{harvp|Sinn|2007}}</ref> whilst the welfare state was significantly expanded<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/porthuronstateme0000unse|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/porthuronstateme0000unse/page/187 187]|title=The Port Huron Statement: Sources and Legacies of the New Left's Founding Manifesto|first1=Richard|last1=Flacks|first2=Nelson|last2=Lichtenstein|date=3 February 2015|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|via=Internet Archive|isbn=9780812246926}}</ref> (with total public spending on social programs nearly doubling between 1969 and 1975),<ref name="socsci">{{cite web|url=http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~rdalton/germany/ch10/chap10.htm |title=Dalton, Politics in Germany – Chapter 10 |publisher=Socsci.uci.edu |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> with health, housing, and social welfare legislation bringing about welcome improvements,<ref name="Binder"/> and by the end of the Brandt Chancellorship West Germany had one of the most advanced systems of welfare in the world.<ref name="Radice"/>

Substantial increases were made in [[social security]] benefits such as injury and sickness benefits,<ref name="Radice"/> pensions,<ref>{{harvp|Callaghan|2000}}</ref> unemployment benefits,<ref name="Radice"/><ref>[https://core.ac.uk/download/files/153/6356755.pdf] {{dead link|date=April 2017}}</ref> housing allowances,<ref name="Flora">{{harvp|Flora|1986}}</ref> basic subsistence aid allowances,<ref name="Walker">{{harvp|Walker|Lawson|Townsend|1984}}</ref> and family allowances and living allowances.<ref name="Wilsford">{{harvp|Wilsford|1995}}</ref> In the government's first budget, sickness benefits were increased by 9.3%, pensions for war widows by 25%, pensions for the war wounded by 16%, and retirement pensions by 5%.<ref name="Prittie">{{harvp|Prittie|1974}}</ref> Numerically, pensions went up by 6.4% (1970), 5.5% (1971), 9.5% (1972), 11.4% (1973), and 11.2% (1974). Adjusted for changes in the annual price index, pensions went up in real terms by 3.1% (1970), 0.3% (1971), 3.9% (1972), 4.4% (1973), and 4.2% (1974).<ref>{{harvp|Potthoff|Miller|2006}}</ref> Between 1972 and 1974, the purchasing power of pensioners went up by 19%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/docpage.cfm?docpage_id=1655 |title=GHDI – Document – Page |publisher=Germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> In 1970, war pensions were increased by 16%.<ref name="Surveyof">{{harvp|Schewe|Nordhorn|Schenke|1972}}</ref> War victim's pensions went up by 5.5% in January 1971, and by 6.3% in January 1972. By 1972, war pensions for orphans and parents had gone up by around 40%, and for widows by around 50%. Between 1970 and 1972, the "Landabgaberente" (land transfer pension) went up by 55%.<ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/WahlprogrammDerSpdMitWillyBrandtFrFriedenSicherheitUndEine|title=Wahlprogramm der SPD : mit Willy Brandt fur Frieden, Sicherheit und eine bessere Qualitat des Lebens|last=Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands|date=1 January 1972|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Between 1969 and 1974, the average real standard rate of income support rose (in 1991 prices) from around 300 DM to around 400 DM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftp.iza.org/dp124.pdf |title=IZA Discussion Paper No. 124 |website=Ftp.iza.org |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> Between 1970 and 1974, unemployment benefits rose from around 300 euros to around 400 euros per month, and unemployment assistance from just under 200 euros per month to just under 400 euros per month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/zur-entwicklung-des-anspruchslohns-in-deutschland/KWP_1463.pdf|title=Zur Entwicklung des Anspruchslohns in Deutschland|first=Alfred|last=Boss|website=Ifw-mewmbers.ifw-kiel.de|publisher=[[Kiel Institute for the World Economy]]|date=November 2008|access-date=4 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029174159/https://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/zur-entwicklung-des-anspruchslohns-in-deutschland/KWP_1463.pdf|archive-date=29 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2001 prices, the average standard social assistance benefit level rose from around 200 euros per month in 1969 to over 250 euros per month in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---europe/---ro-geneva/---sro-moscow/documents/publication/wcms_344665.pdf |title=Table of Contents |website=Ilo.org |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> During most of Brandt's years as chancellor, the majority of benefits increased as a percentage of average net earnings.{{sfnp|Flora|1986|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&pg=PA48 48]}}

In 1970, seagoing pilots became retrospectively insurable and gained full social security as members of the Non-Manual Workers Insurance Institute. That same year, a special regulation came into force for District Master Chimney Sweeps, making them fully insurable under the Craftsman's Insurance Scheme.<ref name="Surveyof" /> An increase was made in tax-free allowances for children, which enabled 1,000,000 families to claim an allowance for the second child, compared to 300,000 families previously.<ref name="Prittie"/> The Second Modification and Supplementation Law (1970) increased the allowance for the third child from DM 50 to DM 60, raised the income-limit for the second child allowance from DM 7,800 to DM 13,200; subsequently increased to DM 15,000 by the third modification law (December 1971), DM 16,800 by the fourth modification law (November 1973), and to DM 18,360 by the fifth modification law (December 1973).<ref name="Flora"/> A flexible retirement age after 62 years was introduced (1972) for invalids and disabled persons,<ref name="aei.pitt">{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9826/1/9826.pdf|title=Report on the Development of the Social Situation in the Community in 1972.|website=Aei.pitt.edu|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> and social assistance was extended to those who previously had to be helped by their relatives.<ref name="Sinn"/> From 1971, special subventions were provided to enable young farmers to quit farming "and facilitate their entry into the non-agricultural pension system by means of back payments".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4h3iUhlfdkC&pg=PA43|title=Small Town and Village in Bavaria: The Passing of a Way of Life|first=Peter H.|last=Merkl|date=1 January 2012|publisher=Berghahn Books|via=Google Books|isbn=9780857453471}}</ref>

==== Social assistance ====
The Third Modification Law (1974) extended individual entitlements to [[social assistance]] by means of higher-income limits compatible with the receipt of benefits and lowered age limits for certain special benefits. Rehabilitation measures were also extended, child supplements were expressed as percentages of standard amounts and were thus indexed to their changes, and grandparents of recipients were exempted from potential liability to reimburse expenditure of social assistance carrier.<ref name="Flora"/> The Third Social Welfare Amendment Act (1974) brought considerable improvements for the disabled, those in need of care, and older persons,<ref name="autogenerated7"/> and a new fund of 100 million marks for disabled children was established.<ref name="Prittie"/>

Allowances for retraining and advanced training and for refugees from East Germany were also increased,<ref name="Prittie"/> together with federal grants for sport.<ref name="Prittie"/> In addition, increases were made in the pensions of 2.5 million war victims.<ref name="Dönhoff"/> Following a sudden increase in the price of oil, a law was passed in December 1973 granting recipients of social assistance and housing allowances a single heating-oil allowance (a procedure repeated in the winter of 1979 during the Schmidt Administration).<ref name="TheEvolution">{{harvp|Kohler|Zacher|Partington|1982}}</ref> Improvements and automatic adjustments of maintenance allowances for participants in vocational training measures were also carried out,<ref name="archive.org"/> and increased allowances were provided for training and retraining, together with special allowances for refugees from East Germany.<ref name="ReferenceA">The Velvet Chancellors: A History of Post-war Germany by Terence Prittie</ref>

There was determined, by statutory regulation issued in February 1970, the category of persons most seriously disabled "to whom, with regard to maintenance aid, an increased demand (50% of the appropriate rate) is being conceded, and, within the scope of relief in special living conditions: a higher rate of nursing aid".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HWcWAAAAYAAJ&q=There%20has,%20by%20statutory%20regulation%20issued%20on%2024%20February%201970,%20furthermore%20been%20determined%20the%20category%20of%20persons%20most%20seriously%20disabled%20(e.g.%20people%20suffering%20from%20paiaplegia),%20to%20whom|title=Information Bulletin on Social Policy|date=1 January 1972|publisher=Council of Europe, Documentation Section and Library|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1971, the retirement age for miners was lowered to 50.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/41190/ |title=Study of the European Communities re-adaptation aids in the coal and steel industries – Archive of European Integration |website=Aei.pitt.edu |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> An April 1972 law providing for "promotion of social aid services" aimed to remedy, through various beneficial measures (particularly in the field of national insurance and working conditions), the staff-shortage suffered by social establishments in their medico-social, educational and other work. A bill to harmonize re-education benefits and another bill relating to severely disabled persons became law in May and September 1972 respectively.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> In 1972, winter payments for construction workers were introduced.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KEv7CwAAQBAJ&q=germany%20bad%20weather%20payments%201972&pg=PA360|title=The Politics of West German Trade Unions: Strategies of Class and Interest Representation in Growth and Crisis|first=Andrei|last=Markovits|date=14 April 2016|publisher=Routledge|via=Google Books|isbn=9781317230762}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ValbA8Kp3loC&q=germany%20bad%20weather%20payments%201972&pg=PA102|title=Federalism and Labour Market Policy: Comparing Different Governance and Employment Strategies|first1=Alain|last1=No[Ux00eb]l|first2=Queen's University (Kingston, Ont ) Institute of Intergovernmental|last2=Relations|date=1 January 2004|publisher=IIGR, Queen's University|via=Google Books|isbn=9781553390060}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bundesbank.de/Redaktion/EN/Downloads/Publications/Monthly_Report/1979/1979_04_monthly_report.pdf?__blob=publicationFile] {{dead link|date=April 2017}}</ref>

To assist family planning and marriage and family guidance, the government allocated DM 2,232,000 in 1973 for the payment and for the basic and further training of staff. A special effort was also made in 1973 to organize the recreation of [[disability|disabled persons]], with a holiday guide for the disabled issued with the aid of the Federal Ministry of Family and Youth Affairs and Health in order to help them find suitable holiday accommodation for themselves and their families. From 1972 to 1973, the total amount of individual aids granted by Guarantee Fund for the integration of young immigrants increased from 17 million DM to 26 million DM.<ref name="aei.pitt_b">{{cite web |url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9801/1/9801.pdf |title=Report on the Development of the Social Situation in the Community in 1973 |website=Aei.pitt.edu |access-date=17 April 2017 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191957/http://aei.pitt.edu/9801/1/9801.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under a law passed in April 1974, the protection hitherto granted to the victims of war or industrial accidents for the purpose of their occupational and social reintegration was extended to all disabled persons, whatever the cause of their disability, provided that their capacity to work had been reduced by at least 50%.<ref name="aei.pitt_c">{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9842/1/9842.pdf |title=Report on the Development of the Social Situation in the Community in 1974 |website=Aei.pitt.edu |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

==== Health care ====
In the field of health care, various measures were introduced to improve the quality and availability of health care provision. Free hospital care was introduced for 9 million recipients of social relief,<ref name="Dönhoff" /> while a contributory medical service for 23 million panel patients was introduced.<ref name="Dönhoff" /> Pensioners were exempted from paying a 2% health insurance contribution,<ref name="Prittie" /> while improvements in health insurance provision were carried out,<ref name="Radice" /> as characterised by an expanded sickness insurance scheme, with the inclusion of preventative treatment.<ref name="Flora" /> The income limit for compulsory sickness insurance was indexed to changes in the wage level (1970),<ref name="Flora" /> and the right to medical cancer screening for 23.5 million people was introduced.<ref name="spiegel.de">{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-42953833.html |title=DER SPIEGEL 16/1972 – Anders als zu Kaisers und zu Katzers Zeiten |work=Der Spiegel |date=9 April 1972 |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> In January 1971, the reduction of sickness allowance in case of hospitalisation was discontinued.<ref name="aei.pitt_a">{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/9805/1/9805.pdf|title=Report on the Development of the Social Situation in the Community in 1971|website=Aei.pitt.edu|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> That same year, compulsory health insurance was extended to the self-employed.<ref>{{harvp|Tomka|2004|p=64}}</ref> In 1970, the government included nonmedical psychotherapists and psychoanalysts in the national health insurance program.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VhS8y2tRf6YC&pg=PA369|title=Psychotherapy in the Third Reich: The GÃ¶ring Institute|first=Geoffrey|last=Cocks|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Transaction Publishers|via=Google Books|isbn=9781412832366}}</ref>

Pupils, students and children in kindergartens were incorporated into the accident insurance scheme,<ref name="Flora"/> which benefited 11 million children.<ref name="Dönhoff"/> Free medical checkups were introduced that same year,<ref name="hdg.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.hdg.de/lemo/html/DasGeteilteDeutschland/KontinuitaetUndWandel/SozialLiberaleKoalition/innereReformen.html |title=Innere Reformen |publisher=Hdg.de |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> while the Farmers' Sickness Insurance Law (1972) introduced compulsory sickness insurance for independent farmers, family workers in agriculture, and pensioners under the farmers' pension scheme, medical benefits for all covered groups, and cash benefits for family workers under compulsory coverage for pension insurance.<ref name="Flora"/> Participation in employer's health insurance was extended to four million employees.<ref name="spiegel.de"/> A Development Law of December 1970 made it possible for all employees to voluntarily become members of the statutory sickness insurance. The level of income for compulsory sickness insurance was indexed to 75% of the respective assessment level for pension insurance, while voluntarily insured employees were granted a claim to an allowance towards their sickness insurance from their employer. This law also introduced a new type of sickness insurance benefit, namely facilities for the early diagnosis of disease. Apart from the discretionary service of disease prevention which had existed since 1923, insured persons now had a right in certain circumstances to medical examinations aimed at the early diagnosis of disease. According to one study, this marked a change in the concept of sickness insurance: it now aimed at securing good health.<ref name="TheEvolution" />

The Hospital Financing Law (1972) secured the supply of hospitals and reduced the cost of hospital care, "defined the financing of hospital investment as a public responsibility, single states to issue plans for hospital development, and the federal government to bear the cost of hospital investment covered in the plans, rates for hospital care thus based on running costs alone, hospitals to ensure that public subsidies together with insurance fund payments for patients cover total costs".<ref name="Flora" /> The Benefit Improvement Law (1973) made entitlement to hospital care legally binding (entitlements already enjoyed in practice), abolished time limits for hospital care, introduced entitlement to household assistance under specific conditions, and also introduced entitlement to leave of absence from work and cash benefits in the event of a child's illness.<ref name="Flora"/> In 1971, to encourage the growth of registered family holiday centres, the Federal Government granted subsidies for the building and appointing of 28 of these centres at a total cost of 8 million DM.<ref name="aei.pitt_a" /> Free preliminary investigations were introduced for 2.5 million children up until the age of 4 for the early detection and correction of developmental disorders, and health research was expanded. Federal grants were increased, especially for the Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg, while a Federal Institute for Sport Science was set up, together with the Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology in Berlin. In addition, funding for new rehabilitation facilities was increased.<ref name="archive.org"/>

==== Retirement ====
The Pension Reform Law (1972) guaranteed all retirees a minimum pension regardless of their contributions<ref name="willy-brandt.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.willy-brandt.org/bwbs_biografie/The_first_policy_statement_B403.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724201622/http://www.willy-brandt.org/bwbs_biografie/The_first_policy_statement_B403.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |title=August 1970: The first policy statement |publisher=Bundeskanzler-Willy-Brandt-Stiftung |date=28 October 1969 |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> and institutionalized the norm that the standard pension (of average earners with forty years of contributions) should not fall below 50% of current gross earnings.<ref name="Flora"/> The 1972 pension reforms improved eligibility conditions and benefits for nearly every subgroup of the West German population.<ref name="autogenerated6"/> The income replacement rate for employees who made full contributions was raised to 70% of average earnings. The reform also replaced 65 as the mandatory retirement age with a "retirement window" ranging between 63 and 65 for employees who had worked for at least thirty-five years. Employees who qualified as disabled and had worked for at least thirty-five years were extended a more generous retirement window, which ranged between the ages of 60 and 62. Women who had worked for at least fifteen years (ten of which had to be after the age of 40) and the long-term unemployed were also granted the same retirement window as the disabled. In addition, there were no benefit reductions for employees who had decided to retire earlier than the age of 65.<ref>{{harvp|Silvia|Stolpe|2007}}</ref> The legislation also changed the way in which pensions were calculated for low-income earners who had been covered for twenty-five or more years. If the pension benefit fell below a specified level, then such workers were allowed to substitute a wage figure of 75% of the average wage during this period, thus creating something like a minimum wage benefit.<ref>{{harvp|Williamson|Pampel|2002}}</ref> According to one study, the 1972 pension reform "enhanced" the reduction of poverty in old age.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/europeanInstitute/research/hellenicObservatory/pdf/pensions_conference/Hinrichs.pdf |title=The Politics of Pension Reform in Germany |website=Lse.ac.uk |access-date=17 April 2017 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407083756/http://www.lse.ac.uk/europeanInstitute/research/hellenicObservatory/pdf/pensions_conference/Hinrichs.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Voluntary retirement at 63 with no deductions in the level of benefits was introduced,<ref name="autogenerated6">{{harvp|Mares|2006}}</ref> together with the index-linking of war victims' pensions to wage increases.<ref name="Radice"/> Guaranteed minimum pension benefits for all West Germans were introduced,<ref name="socsci" /> along with automatic pension increases for war widows (1970).<ref name="hdg.de"/> Fixed minimum rates for women in receipt of very low pensions were also introduced, together with equal treatment for war widows.<ref name="MyLife">{{harvp|Brandt|1992}}</ref> Improvements in pension provision were made for women and the self-employed,<ref>{{harvp|Blackburn|2003}}</ref> a new minimum pension for workers with at least twenty-five years' insurance was introduced,<ref name="Walker"/> faster pension indexation was implemented, with the annual adjustment of pensions brought forward by six months,<ref name="bpb.de"/> and the Seventh Modification Law (1973) linked the indexation of farmers' pensions to the indexation of the general pension insurance scheme.<ref name="Flora"/>

A new pension for "severely handicapped" persons was introduced in 1972,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCDJ8OAKjygC&q=german%20pension%20handicapped%20persons%201972&pg=PA142|title=Reforming Early Retirement in Europe, Japan and the USA|first=Bernhard|last=Ebbinghaus|date=20 July 2006|publisher=OUP Oxford|via=Google Books|isbn=9780199286119}}</ref> along with occupational injury annuities<ref>Unemployment in Theory and Practice edited by Thomas Lange</ref> and a special pension for long-standing insurant from the age of 63 and a pension due to "limited earning capacity" from the age of 62.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rE1BAwAAQBAJ&q=german%20widows%20pension%201972&pg=PA18|title=Sustainability of the German Pension Scheme: Employment at Higher Ages and Incentives for Delayed Retirement|first=Lewicki, Maria|last=Patricia|date=25 March 2014|publisher=KIT Scientific Publishing|via=Google Books|isbn=9783731501718}}</ref> In addition, a special pension benefit was introduced for workers aged 60 and above after unemployment.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QILX3GWEP5kC&q=german%20unemployment%20benefits%20age%2060%201972&pg=PA46|title=Aging and Work|first=Masaharu|last=Kumashiro|date=2 September 2003|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9780203218556|via=Google Books}}</ref> Under the Severely Handicapped Persons Act of April 1974, a seriously disabled person could retire early on an old age pension at the age of 62 years, provided that he "complied with the other provisions of the legislation on pension insurance".<ref name="aei.pitt_c"/>

==== Education ====
In education, the Brandt Administration sought to widen educational opportunities for all West Germans. The government presided over an increase in the number of teachers,<ref name="Dönhoff"/> generous public stipends were introduced for students to cover their living costs,<ref name="Sinn"/> and West German universities were converted from elite schools into mass institutions.<ref name="Sinn"/> The school leaving age was raised to 16,<ref name="Lane">{{harvp|Lane|1985}}</ref> and spending on research and education was increased by nearly 300% between 1970 and 1974.<ref name="Lane"/> Working through a planning committee set up for the "joint task" of university development, the Federal Government started to make investment costs in 1971.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4W0vBQAAQBAJ&q=federal%20republic%20germany%20law%201971%20investment%20universities&pg=PA240|title=State & Government in the Federal Republic of Germany: The Executive at Work|first=N.|last=Johnson|date=22 October 2013|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=9781483293011|via=Google Books}}</ref> Fees for higher or further education were abolished,<ref name="Radice"/> while a considerable increase in the number of higher education institutions took place.<ref name="Radice"/> A much-needed school and college construction program was carried out,<ref name="Radice"/> together with the introduction of postgraduate support for highly qualified graduates, providing them with the opportunity to earn their doctorates or undertake research studies.<ref name="Winkler_Sager">{{harvp|Winkler|2007}}</ref> A law on individual promotion of vocational training came into force in October 1971, which provided for financial grants for attendance at further general or technical teaching establishments from the second year of studies at higher technical schools, academies and higher education establishments, training centres of second degree, or certain courses of television teaching. Grants were also made in certain cases for attendance at training centres located outside the Federal Republic.<ref name="aei.pitt_a" />

The education budget was doubled from 3% to 6%, while an expansion of secondary education took place. The number of university students went up from 100,000 to 650,000, 30,000 more places were created in the schools, and an additional 1 billion marks were allocated for new school buildings. In addition, the provision of scholarships was expanded, with the 1970 programme providing for, in the words of one observer, "5,000 new scholarships for graduates, and double that number were being awarded three years later".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Grants were introduced for pupils from lower income groups to stay on at school, together with grants for those going into any kind of higher or further education.<ref name="Winkler_Sager"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gew.de/Binaries/Binary37514/GEW_fzs_UN_Opinion.pdf |title=The Introduction Of Tuition Fees In Germany And The International Covenant On Economic, Social And Cultural Rights |author=GEW – Die Bildungsgewerkschaft |date=10 June 2015 |work=gew.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805140952/http://www.gew.de/Binaries/Binary37514/GEW_fzs_UN_Opinion.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref> Increases were also made in educational allowances,<ref name="Flora"/> as well as spending on science.<ref name="Wilsford"/> In 1972, the government allocated 2.1 million DM in grants to promote marriage and family education.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> Under the Approbationsordnung (medical education profession act) of 1970, the subject of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy at German universities became a compulsory subject for medical students,<ref>{{cite journal | last = Köllner | first = V. | title = [Education in Psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy in the German Federal Republic] | journal = Ther Umsch | volume = 52 | issue = 2 | pages = 118–122 | language = de | pmid = 7892672 | date = February 1995 }}</ref> and that same year education of clinical and biomedical engineers was introduced.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIeQhdrW2VMC&pg=PA67|title=Clinical Engineering Handbook|first=Joseph F.|last=Dyro|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Academic Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780122265709}}</ref> The Brandt Administration also introduced enabling legislation for the introduction of comprehensives, but left it to the Lander "to introduce them at their discretion". While the more left-wing Lander "rapidly began to do so", other Lander found "all sorts of pretexts for delaying the scheme". By the mid-1980s, Berlin had 25 comprehensives while Bavaria only had 1, and in most Lander comprehensives were still viewed as "merely experimental".<ref>{{harvp|Ardagh|1996}}</ref>

==== Housing and urban development ====
In the field of housing, various measures were carried out to benefit householders, such as improving the rights of tenants and increasing rental assistance. According to the Rent Subsidies Act (Wohngeldgesetz) of 1970, "low-income tenants and owners of accommodations are supported with rents and burdens subsidies".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aEhDAQAAIAAJ&q=1970|title=Social security, how it works in the Federal Republic of Germany|first=Rolf|last=Neuhaus|date=1 January 1979|publisher=Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung|via=Google Books}}</ref> The determination of the income of families taken into consideration for housing allowances was simplified,<ref name="aei.pitt.edu">{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/32294/ |title=Expose sur l'evolution de la situation sociale dans le Communaute en 1970 (joint au Quatrieme rapport general sur l'activite des Communautes) = Report on the development of the social situation in the Community in 1970 (annex to the Fourth general report on the activities of the Community). February 1971 – Archive of European Integration |website=Aei.pitt.edu |year = 1971|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> and increased levels of protection and support for low-income tenants and householders were introduced,<ref name="Radice"/> which led to a drop in the number of eviction notices. By 1974, three times as much was paid out in rent subsidies as in 1969, and nearly one and a half million households received rental assistance.<ref name="autogenerated7">{{harvp|Schmidt|1982}}</ref> Increases were made in public housing subsidies,<ref>{{harvp|Patton|1999}}</ref> as characterised by a 36% increase in the social housing budget in 1970<ref name="Prittie"/> and by the introduction of a programme for the construction of 200,000 public housing units (1971).<ref>{{harvp|Bezelga|Brandon|1991}}</ref> From 1970 to 1971, an 18.1% increase in building permits for social housing units was made.<ref name="chroniknet.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.chroniknet.de/indx_de.0.html?article=259111&year=1971 |title=1971 – Frischer Wind durch innere Reformen der Bonner Koalition – chroniknet Artikel und private Fotos |publisher=Chroniknet.de |date=29 May 1977 |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230026/http://www.chroniknet.de/indx_de.0.html?article=259111&year=1971 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other reforms aimed at improving tenants' rights included protection against conversion of rental housing into condominiums, the prohibition of the misappropriation of living space, new regulation of the apartment broker system, and a fee scale for engineers and architects. In addition, the income limits for eligibility for social housing were raised and adapted in order of general income trends.<ref name="archive.org"/>

A loose form of rent regulation was introduced under the name of ''Vergleichmieten'' (comparable rents),<ref>{{harvp|Power|2002}}</ref> together with the provision of "for family-friendly housing" freight or rent subsidies to owners of apartments or houses whose ceiling had been adapted to increased expenses or incomes (1970).<ref name="digam.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.digam.net/dokument.php?ID=9019&PHPSESSID=23da32f4275c4cbefc5d9395393ba4cf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221105943/http://www.digam.net/dokument.php?ID=9019&PHPSESSID=23da32f4275c4cbefc5d9395393ba4cf |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2013 |title=Digitales Archiv Marburg – Das DigAM Projekt |publisher=Digam.net |date=28 October 1969 |access-date=14 November 2012 }}</ref> In addition, a law for the creation of property for workers was passed, under which a married worker would normally keep up to 95% of his pay, and graded tax remission for married wage-earners applied up to a wage of 48,000 marks, which indicated the economic prosperity of West Germany at that time.<ref name="Prittie"/> The Town Planning Act (1971) encouraged the preservation of historical heritage and helped open up the way to the future of many German cities,<ref name="MyLife"/> while the Urban Renewal Act (1971) helped the states to restore their inner cities and to develop new neighbourhoods.<ref>{{harvp|Kommers|1997|p=93}}</ref> In addition, the Guidelines of December 1972 on the usage of federal funds in assisting social housing construction laid down that a certain standard needed to be observed when building homes for severely disabled persons.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://aei.pitt.edu/36404/1/A2595.pdf |title=Comparative study on the Rehabilitation of Handicapped Persons in the Countries of the Community |website=Aei.pitt.edu |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

The Second Housing Allowance Law of December 1970 simplified the administration of housing allowances and extended entitlements, increased the income limit to 9,600 DM per year plus 2,400 DM for each family member, raised the general deduction on income to determine reckonable income from 15% to 20%, allowance rates listed in tables replacing complicated calculation procedure based on "bearable rent burdens".<ref name="Flora"/> The Housing Construction Modification Law (1971) increased the income-limit for access to low rent apartments under the social housing programme from 9,000 DM to 12,000 DM per annum plus 3,000 DM (instead of 2,400) for each family member. The law also introduced special subsidies to reduce the debt burden for builders not surpassing the regular income-limit by more than 40%. Under a 1973 law, the limits were increased to 1,000 DM plus 9,000 DM and 4,200 DM for additional family members.<ref name="Flora"/> The Rent Improvement Law (1971) strengthened the position of tenants. Under this legislation, notice was to be ruled illegal "where appropriate substitute accommodation not available; landlords obliged to specify reasons for notice",<ref name="Flora"/> whilst the Eviction Protection Law (1971) established tenant protection against rent rises and notice. The notice was only lawful if in the "justified interest of the landlord". Under this law, higher rents were not recognised as "justified interest".<ref name="Flora"/> The Second Eviction Protection Law (1972) made the tenant protection introduced under the Eviction Protection Law of 1971 permanent. Under this new law, the notice was only lawful where the landlord proved a justified personal interest in the apartment. In addition, rent increases were only lawful if they were not above normal comparable rents in the same area.<ref name="Flora"/>

Directives on the housing of foreign workers came into force in April 1971. These directives imposed certain requirements for space, hygiene, safety, and amenities in the accommodations offered by employers. That same year, the Federal Government granted a sum of 17 million DM to the Länder for the improvement and modernization of housing built before 21 June 1948.<ref name="aei.pitt_a" /> In addition, according to a 1971 regulation of the Board of the Federal Labour Office, "construction of workers' hostels qualified for government financial support under certain conditions".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qdRx7qLF8KIC&pg=PA58|title=Muslims in the West: From Sojourners to Citizens|first=Yvonne Yazbeck|last=Haddad|date=11 April 2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780198033752}}</ref> The "German Council for town development", which was set up by virtue of Article 89 of a law to foster urban building, was partly aimed at planning a favourable environment for families (such as the provision of playgrounds). In 1971, the Federal Labour Office made available DM 425 million in the form of loans to provide 157,293 beds in 2,494 hostels. A year later, the Federal Government (Bund), the Lander and the Federal Labour Office promoted the construction of dwellings for migrant workers. They set aside 10 million DM for this purpose, which allowed the financing of 1650 family dwellings that year.<ref name="aei.pitt" />

Development measures were begun in 1972 with federal financial aid granted to the Lander for improvement measures relating to towns and villages, and in the 1972 budget, DM 50 million was earmarked, i.e. a third of the total cost of some 300 schemes. A council for urban development was formed in May 1972 with the purpose of promoting future work and measures in the field of urban renovation.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> In 1973, the government provided assistance of DM 28 million for the modernisation of old dwellings.<ref name="aei.pitt_b" /> New rules were introduced regarding improvements in the law relating to rented property, and control of the rise in rents and protection against cancellation of leases also safeguarded the rights of migrant workers in the sphere of housing.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> A law of July 1973 fixed the fundamental and minimum requirements regarding workers' dwellings, mainly concerning space, ventilation and lighting, protection against damp, heat and noise, power and heating facilities and sanitary installations.<ref name="aei.pitt_b" />

==== Civil, family, and animal rights ====
Regarding civil rights, the Brandt Administration introduced a broad range of socially liberal reforms aimed at making West Germany a more open society. Greater legal rights for women were introduced, as exemplified by the standardisation of pensions, divorce laws, regulations governing the use of surnames, and the introduction of measures to bring more women into politics.<ref name="MyLife" /> The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18,<ref>{{harvp|Pridham|1977}}</ref> the age of eligibility for political office was lowered to 21,<ref name="Winkler_Sager" /> and the age of majority was lowered to 18 in March 1974.<ref name="Winkler_Sager" /> The Third Law for the Liberalization of the Penal Code (1970) liberalised "the right to political demonstration",<ref name="Braunthal" /><ref name="Winkler_Sager" /> while equal rights were granted to illegitimate children that same year.<ref name="Walker" /> A 1971 amendment to a federal civil service reform bill enabled fathers to apply for part-time civil service work.<ref>{{harvp|Cooke|Gash|2007}}</ref> In 1971, corporal punishment was banned in schools,<ref>{{harvp|Kaplan|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ocq05ABvJYYC&pg=PA123 123]}}</ref> and that same year a new Highway Code was introduced.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OT1cAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|title=Eighteenth Annual Report and Resolutions of the Council of Ministers|first=European Conference of Ministers of|last=Transport|date=1 February 1972|publisher=OECD Publishing|via=Google Books|isbn=9789282106303}}</ref> In 1973, a measure was introduced that facilitated the adoption of young children by reducing the minimum age for adoptive parents from 35 to 25.<ref name="aei.pitt_b" />

A women's policy machinery at the national level was established in 1972<ref>{{harvp|Huber|Stephens|2001}}</ref> while amnesty was guaranteed in minor offences connected with demonstrations.<ref name="Winkler_Sager" /> From 1970 onwards, parents as well as landlords were no longer legally prohibited "to give or rent rooms or flats to unmarried couples or to allow them to stay overnight".<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Discretionary Time]]|last1=Goodin|first1=Robert E.|date=21 February 2008|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=9781139470773|page=174|display-authors=etal}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=pKuzRB8PRBwC&pg=PA174 Preview.]</ref> In October 1972, the legal aid system was improved with the compensation paid to private lawyers for legal services to the poor increased.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFc5AQAAIAAJ&q=west%20germany%201972%20financing%20legal%20aid|title=A reader on resourcing civil justice|last1=Paterson|first1=Alan|last2=Goriely|first2=Tamara|date=1 January 1996|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780198764618}}</ref> The Bausparkassen Act of 1972<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.bausparkassen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/english/Bausparen_in_Deutschland_en_130109.pdf |title=The "Bauspar" System in Germany |publisher=European Office of the Verband der Privaten Bausparkassen e.V. |date=January 2013 |publication-place=Brussels |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922045007/http://www.bausparkassen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/english/Bausparen_in_Deutschland_en_130109.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015}}</ref> placed all bausparkassen ([[Building society|building societies]]) under the supervision of the Federal Banking Supervisory Office from January 1974 onwards, and confined them "to the contract saving business and related activities".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-IlR-UVHSgC&pg=PA202|title=National Housing Finance Systems: A Comparative Study|last=Boléat|first=Mark|date=1 January 1985|publisher=Mark Boleat|via=Google Books|isbn=9780709932499}}</ref> The Animal Protection Act, passed in 1972, introduced various safeguards for animals such as not permitting the causing of pain, injury, or suffering to an animal without justification, and limiting experiments to the minimum number of animals necessary.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_DjBwAAQBAJ&q=federal%20republic%20germany%201972%20animal%20protection&pg=PA103|title=Animal Research and Ethical Conflict: An Analysis of the Scientific Literature: 1966–1986|last1=Phillips|first1=Mary T.|last2=Sechzer|first2=Jeri A.|date=6 December 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|via=Google Books|isbn=9781461236207}}</ref> In 1971, rules were introduced making it possible for former guestworkers "to receive an unlimited residence permit after a five-year stay".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFRdBAAAQBAJ&q=federal%20republic%20germany%20language%20law%201973&pg=PA61|title=The Federal Republic of Germany Since 1949: Politics, Society and Economy Before and After Unification|last1=Larres|first1=Klaus|last2=Panayi|first2=Panikos|date=27 August 2014|publisher=Routledge|via=Google Books|isbn=9781317891741}}</ref>

==== Military ====
A number of reforms were also carried out to the armed forces,<ref name="Binder" /> as characterised by a reduction in basic military training from 18 to 15 months, a reorganisation of education and training, and personnel and procurement procedures.<ref name="autogenerated7" /> Education for the troops was improved,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zCNXAAAAYAAJ&q=helmut%20schmidt%20reforms%201969-72%20improved%20education%20for%20the%20troops|title=The Economist|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Economist Newspaper Limited|via=Google Books}}</ref> a personnel reshuffle of top management in the Bundeswehr was carried out,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswho.de/bio/helmut-schmidt.html|title=Helmut Schmidt – Biografie ''Who's Who''|website=Whoswho.de|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> academic education was mandated for officers beyond their basic military training, and a new recruiting policy for Bundeswehr personnel was introduced with the intention of building an army that reflected West Germany's pluralistic society. Defence Minister [[Helmut Schmidt]] led the development of the first Joint Service Regulation ZDv 10/1 (Assistance for Innere Fuehrung, classified: restricted), which revitalized the concept of Innere Fuehrung while also affirming the value of the "citizen in uniform". According to one study, as a result of this reform, "a strong civil mindset displaced the formerly dominant military mindset", and forced the Bundeswehr's elder generation to accept a new type of soldier envisioned by Schmidt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/2012summer/Koltermann.pdf |title=Citizen in Uniform: Democratic Germany and the Changing Bundeswehr |website=Strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/p |access-date=17 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210080849/http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/2012summer/Koltermann.pdf |archive-date=10 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, the Federal Cost of Moving Act increased the relocation allowance (with effect from 1 November 1973), with the basic allowances raised by DM 50 and DM 100 respectively, while extra allowances for families were raised to a uniform amount of 125 DM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s0qAQAAMAAJ&q=federal%20republic%20germany%20DM%2050%20and%20DM%20100%20respectively,%20extra%20allowances%20for%20families%20were%20increased%20to%20a%20uniform|title=White Paper 1973/1974: The Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence|via=Google Books}}</ref>

In 1970, the Armed Forces Vocational Schools and the Vocational Advancement Organization extended their services for the first time to conscripts, "so far as military duty permitted".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JMcxAQAAIAAJ&q=In%201970,%20the%20Armed%20Forces%20Vocational%20Schools%20and%20the%20Vocational%20Advancement%20Organization%20extended%20their%20services%20for%20the%20first%20time%20to%20conscripts,%20so%20far%20as%20military%20duty%20permitted|title=White Paper: the Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|first=Germany (West) Bundesministerium der|last=Verteidigung|date=1 January 1971|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence.|via=Google Books}}</ref> New enlistment bonuses were authorized and previous bonus schemes were improved,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aotAAAAIAAJ&q=new%20enlistment%20bonuses|title=White Paper: the Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1973|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence.|via=Google Books}}</ref> and new pay regulations were introduced that improved the financial situation of military personnel and civil servants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aotAAAAIAAJ&q=bonuses|title=White Paper: the Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1973|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence.|via=Google Books}}</ref> In July 1973, the 3rd Amendment to the Civilian Service Act came into force; "a prerequisite for the creation of additional civilian service places for recognized conscientious objectors". The amendment provided that men recognized as conscientious objectors while performing military service should immediately be transferred to a civilian service assignment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s0qAQAAMAAJ&q=n%20July%201,%201973,%20the%203rd%20Amendment%20to%20the%20Civilian%20Service%20Act%20came%20into%20force.%20This%20amendment%20was%20a%20prerequisite%20for%20the%20creation%20of%20additional%20civilian%20service%20places%20for%20recognized%20conscientious%20objecters|title=White Paper 1973/1974: The Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence|via=Google Books}}</ref> The maximum amount for servicemen enlisting for at least 12 years was increased from DM 6,000 to DM 9,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s0qAQAAMAAJ&q=For%20servicemen%20enlisting%20for%20at%20least%20twelve%20years%20the%20maximum%20amount%20has%20been%20raised%20from%20DM%206,000%20to%20DM%209,000|title=White Paper 1973/1974: The Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence|via=Google Books}}</ref> and from October 1971 onwards, long-term personnel were paid grants towards the cost 'of attending educational institutes of the "second educational route" or participating in state-recognized general education courses provided by private correspondence schools and the "television college"'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s0qAQAAMAAJ&q=Since%20October%201,%201971,%20long-term%20personnel%20have%20been%20paid%20grants%20towards%20the%20cost%20of%20attending%20educational%20institutes%20of|title=White Paper 1973/1974: The Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Development of the Federal Armed Forces|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Federal Minister of Defence|via=Google Books}}</ref> In 1972, two Bundeswehr universities were established;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsu-hh.de/studbereich/index_JpZ7Fen7NtFT1vcw.html|title=Studierendenbereich :: Beitrag aus dem IntranetBw anläßlich des 40 jährigen Bestehens der Universitäten der Bundeswehr|first=Michael|last=Deichen|website=Hsu-hh.de|access-date=17 April 2017|archive-date=28 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128213910/http://www.hsu-hh.de/studbereich/index_JpZ7Fen7NtFT1vcw.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XJ3fAAAAMAAJ&q=helmut%20schmidt%20bundeswehr%20universities%201972|title=The Bundeswehr and Western Security|first=Stephen F.|last=Szabo|date=1 January 1990|publisher=Macmillan Publishers Limited|isbn=9780333498804|via=Google Books}}</ref> a reform which, according to one historian, "fought against the closed nature of the military and guaranteed that officers would be better able to successfully interact with the civilian world".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c48my4z2d8cC&q=helmut%20schmidt%20bundeswehr%20universities%201972&pg=PT82|title=Civil-Military Relations and Shared Responsibility: A Four-Nation Study|first=Dale R.|last=Herspring|date=27 March 2013|publisher=JHU Press|isbn=9781421409290|via=Google Books}}</ref> From April 1973, the general maintenance payments under the Law amending the Maintenance Security Act and the Workplace Protection Act were increased, while increases were also made in the special allowance (Christmas bonus) for conscripts, together with the dismissal allowance. The expense allowance for troops on duty-related absence from place of employment was improved, together with travel subsidies and provisions for military service-damaged soldiers and their families.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/07/017/0701748.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031024211/http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/07/017/0701748.pdf |archive-date=31 October 2016 }}</ref> In addition, the position of non-commissioned officers was improved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11986614/Helmut-Schmidt-West-German-chancellor-obituary.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11986614/Helmut-Schmidt-West-German-chancellor-obituary.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Helmut Schmidt, West German chancellor – obituary|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=10 November 2015 |access-date=17 April 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Consumers' and workers' rights ====
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F042103-0033, Dortmund, Brandt besichtigt Kohlenbergwerk.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Brandt visiting a coal mine in [[Dortmund]]-[[Eving]], 1974]]
Legislation aimed at safeguarding consumers was also implemented under the Brandt Administration. The consumer's right of withdrawal in case of hire purchase was strengthened in March 1974,<ref name="sophienschule.de" /> and fixed prices for branded products were abolished by law in January that same year, which meant that manufacturers' recommended prices were not binding for retailers.<ref name="sophienschule.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.sophienschule.de/comenius/timeline/index_files/Ger74economy.htm |title=Germany'74 – Economy |publisher=Sophienschule.de |date=20 December 1974 |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212819/http://www.sophienschule.de/comenius/timeline/index_files/Ger74economy.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, a progressive anticartel law was passed.<ref name="Binder" /> The Law on Compensation for Measures of Criminal Prosecution and Penalties, passed in March 1971, provided for standardized compensation in certain situations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/DraftBasicPrinciples/Germany131007_Quest_Germany_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=29 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001053657/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Detention/DraftBasicPrinciples/Germany131007_Quest_Germany_en.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FxOODVZ7TsEC&pg=PA263|title=State Responsibility and the Individual: Reparation in Instances of Grave Violations of Human Rights|first1=Albrecht|last1=Randelzhofer|first2=Christian|last2=Tomuschat|date=11 March 1999|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=9041111476|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uR8C-vcwOEIC&pg=PA50|title=International Encyclopedia of Comparative Law|first=René|last=David|date=1 January 1972|publisher=Brill Archive|isbn=3166446176|via=Google Books}}</ref> In addition, the budget for communications was increased.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

In terms of working conditions, a number of reforms were introduced aimed at strengthening the rights of workers both at home and in the workplace. The Sickness Act of 1970 provided equal treatment of workers and employees in the event of incapacity for work,<ref name="bpb.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpb.de/izpb/10109/sozialliberale-koalition-und-innere-reformen?p=3 |title=Sozialliberale Koalition und innere Reformen &#124; bpb |date=5 April 2002 |language=de |publisher=Bpb.de |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> while maternity leave was increased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digam.net/dokument0625.html?ID=9020|title=Digitales Archiv Marburg – Das DigAM Projekt|work=digam.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121730/http://digam.net/dokument0625.html?ID=9020|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> Legislation was introduced in 1970 which ensured continued payment of wages for workers disabled by illness.<ref name="willy-brandt.org"/> In 1970 all employees unfit for work (with the exception of women in receipt of maternity benefits and temporarily and inconsiderably employed persons) were provided with an unconditional legal claim against their employer to continued payment of their gross wage for a period of 6 weeks, as also in the case of spa treatment approved by an Insurance Fund, the Fund bearing the full cost thereof. Previously, payment of the employer's supplement and sick pay were only made from the day on which the doctor certified unfitness for work.<ref name="Surveyof" /> In 1972, an Act on Agency Work was passed, which sought to prevent work agencies from providing job placement services and aimed to provide minimum job protection for employees in agency work.<ref>{{harvp|Schiek|2006}}</ref> A law on the hiring out of manpower, passed in October 1972, contained provisions to stipulate prior authorization for the hiring out of manpower, to draw a distinction between the system governing workers hired out and the placing of workers, to regulate and improve the rights of hired out workers pertaining to working conditions and social insurance, and provide for more severe penalties and fines to be imposed on offenders.<ref name="aei.pitt" />

Improvements were also made in income and work conditions for home workers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=907 |title=GHDI – Document |publisher=Germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org |date=24 September 1973 |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> accident insurance was extended to non-working adults,<ref name="socsci" /> and the Border Zone Assistance Act (1971) increased levels of assistance to the declining zonal peripheral area.<ref>{{harvp|Scheffer|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=H8bOCZReMTMC&pg=PA555 555–556]}}</ref> The Occupational Safety Act (1973) required employers to provide company doctors and safety experts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chroniknet.de/daly_de.0.html?year=1973&month=12 |title=Dezember 1973 – Regierung Uruguay Parteien Zeitungen "El Popular" "Cronica" Verband – chroniknet – Schlagzeilen, Ereignisse, Fotos mit Geschichte, Community |publisher=Chroniknet.de |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225953/http://www.chroniknet.de/daly_de.0.html?year=1973&month=12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A directive on protection against noise at the place of work was adopted in November 1970. If measurements showed or there was reason to assume that a noise level guide value of 90&nbsp;dB( A) may be exceeded at the place of work, then the authority had to instruct the employer to arrange check-ups of the employees concerned, and these employees had to use personal noise protection devices.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> A matching fund program for 15 million employees was also introduced, which stimulated them to accumulate capital.<ref name="Binder"/>

A ministerial order of January 1970 extended protection in cases of partial unemployment to home workers, while an ordinance of August 1970 fixed the conditions of health necessary for service in the merchant navy. A general provision of October 1970 determined in detail the circumstances in which the competent authority must take action on the basis of the act on the technical means of work. The requirement also stipulated the extent to which the technical standards established by national and international organisations can be regarded as "rules of the art".<ref name="aei.pitt.edu"/> In a directive of 10 November 1970, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs recommended to the higher authorities for work protection of the "Lander" to bring in the directive published, in agreement with the Ministry of Labour, by the German Engineers' Association on the evaluation of work station noise in relation to loss of hearing, in order to improve safeguards for workers against the noises in question. In September 1971, an ordinance was published concerning dangerous working materials, safeguarding persons using these materials against the dangers involved.

By a decree of the Federal Minister for Labour and Social Order, the Federal Institute for Industrial Protection became the Federal Agency for Industrial Protection and Accident Research. Amongst its designated tasks were the promotion of industrial protection, accident prevention on the journey to and from work and accident prevention in the home and leisure activities, the encouragement of training and advanced training in the area of industrial protection, and the promotion and coordination of accident research. A regulation was issued in 1972 which permitted for the first time the employment of women as drivers of trams, omnibuses and lorries, while further regulations laid down new provisions for lifts and work with compressed air.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> The Factory Constitution Law (1971) strengthened the rights of individual employees "to be informed and to be heard on matters concerning their place of work". The Works Council was provided with greater authority while trade unions were given the right of entry into the factory "provided they informed the employer of their intention to do so",<ref name="Childs"/> while a law was passed to encourage wider share ownership by workers and other rank-and-file employees.<ref name="Childs"/> The Industrial Relations Law (1972) and the Personnel Representation Act (1974) broadened the rights of employees in matters which immediately affected their places of work, while also improving the possibilities for codetermination on operations committees, together with access of trade unions to companies.<ref name="willy-brandt.org"/>

The Works Constitution Act of 1972 required in cases of collective dismissal at an establishment normally employing more than twenty employees, that management and the works council must negotiate a social plan that stipulates compensation for workers who lose their jobs. In cases where the two parties could not agree on a social plan, the law provided for binding arbitration.<ref>{{harvp|Abraham|Houseman|1994}}</ref> In 1972, the rights of works councils to information from management were not only strengthened, but works councils were also provided with full codetermination rights on issues such as working time arrangements in the plant, the setting of piece rates, plant wage systems, the establishment of vacation times, work breaks, overtime, and short-time work.<ref>{{harvp|Thelen|1991|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=BokmF9j1hx0C&pg=PA100 100]}}</ref> Legislation was passed which acknowledged for the first time the presence of trade unions in the workplace, expanded the means of action of the works councils, and improved their work basics as well as those of the youth councils.<ref name="autogenerated8">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpb.de/publikationen/MXQU1P,0,0,Informationen_zur_politischen |title=IZPB &#124; bpb |language=de |publisher=Bpb.de |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

A law of January 1972 on the organization of labour in enterprises significantly extended the works council's right of cooperation and co-management in the matter of vocational training. That same year, the Safety Institute of the Federal Republic of Germany was transformed into a public Federal Agency (Bundesanstalt) with significantly enlarged powers, in the context of which special emphasis would be placed on its new task of promoting and coordinating research in the area of accident prevention.<ref name="aei.pitt" /> New provisions were introduced for the rehabilitation of severely disabled people ("Schwerbehinderte") and accident victims.<ref name="MyLife" /> The Severely Disabled Persons Act of April 1974 obliged all employers with more than fifteen employees to ensure that 6% of their workforce consisted of people officially recognised as being severely disabled. Employers who failed to do so were assessed 100 DM per month for every job falling below the required quota. These compensatory payments were used to "subsidise the adaptation of workplaces to the requirements of those who were severely handicapped".<ref name="Walker"/>

A law passed in January 1974, designed to protect members of the supervisory boards of companies who are undergoing training, was aimed at ensuring that the representatives of young workers and youthful members of works councils still undergoing training could perform their duties with greater independence and without fear of disadvantageous consequences for their future careers. On request, workers' representatives on completion of their training courses had to have an employment relationship of unlimited duration.<ref name="aei.pitt_c" /> In the field of transport, the Municipal Transportation Finance Law of 1971 established federal guidelines for subsidies to municipal governments,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr38/f10_uts.html|title=When will Japan Choose Light Rail Transit?|work=jrtr.net|access-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052336/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr38/f10_uts.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> while the Federal Transport Plan of 1973 provided a framework for all transport, including public transport.<ref>{{harvp|Banister|2002}}</ref> In addition, the Severely Handicapped Persons Act of April 1974 extended the welfare and promotional obligations of the employer and provided a right to extra holiday consisting of six working days.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

==== Environment ====
A federal environmental programme was established in 1971,<ref>{{harvp|Schäfers|1998}}</ref> and in 1972 laws were passed to regulate garbage elimination and air pollution via emission.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pyWtQkfScAEC&pg=PA230|page=230|title=Recent Social Trends in West Germany, 1960–1990|first1=Wolfgang|last1=Glatzer|first2=International Research Group on the Comparative Charting of Social Change in Advanced Industrial|last2=Societies|date=21 August 1992|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP|isbn=9780773509092|via=Google Books}}</ref> Matching grants covering 90% of infrastructure development were allocated to local communities, which led to a dramatic increase in the number of public swimming pools and other facilities of consumptive infrastructure throughout West Germany.<ref name="Sinn" /> The federal crime-fighting apparatus was also modernised,<ref name="Binder" /> while a Foreign Tax Act was passed which limited the possibility of tax evasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=908 |title=GHDI – Document |publisher=Germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org |date=17 May 1974 |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> In addition, efforts were made to improve the railways and motorways.<ref name="Binder" /> In 1971, a law was passed setting the maximum lead content at 0.4 grams per liter of gasoline,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q83kxhOsgxYC&pg=PA140|title=Industry and Politics in West Germany: Toward the Third Republic|first=Peter J.|last=Katzenstein|date=1 January 1989|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=0801495954|via=Google Books}}</ref> and in 1972 DDT was banned.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UksBuLkuKsC&pg=PA131|title=Nature Of The Miracle Years: Conservation in West Germany, 1945–1975|first=Sandra|last=Chaney|date=15 July 2013|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=9780857458414|via=Google Books}}</ref> The Federal Emissions Control Law, passed in March 1974, provided protection from noxious gases, noise, and air-borne particulate matter.<ref>Federal Republic of Germany: Spatial Development and Problems by Peter Schöller, Willi Walter Puls, and Hanns Jürgen Buchholz</ref>

In August 1971, a law came into force directed at reducing atmospheric pollution from lead compounds in four-stroke engine fuels. As a safeguard against radiation, a decree on the system of authorisations for medicaments treated with ionizing radiation or containing radioactive substances, in its version of 8 August 1967, was remodelled by a new Decree of 10 May 1971 which added some radionuclides to the list of medicaments which doctors in private practice were authorized to use.

Taking into account the enormous high peaks of air traffic noise and its concentration at a limited number of airports, the Law for Protection against Aircraft Noise of 1971 sought to balance two conflicting demands, the first being the legitimate demand by industry, business and the public for an efficient air traffic system, and secondly, the understandable and by no means less legitimate claims of the affected people for protection and compensation. The legislation regulated the establishment of so-called "Lärmschutzzonen" (protection areas against aircraft noise) for all 11 international airports and for those 34 military airports used for jet aircraft, and the law also authorised the Federal Department of the Interior to decree protection areas for each of those mentioned airports with approval by the "Bundesrat", the representation of the German Federal States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mapcontext.com/autocarto/proceedings/auto-carto-4-vol-1/pdf/automated-cartography-as-an-aid-to-define-protection-areas-against-air-traffic-noise.pdf|title=Automated cartography as an aid to decree protection areas against air traffic noise|author=Theodor M. Johannsen|pages=138–145|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527220245/http://mapcontext.com/autocarto/proceedings/auto-carto-4-vol-1/pdf/automated-cartography-as-an-aid-to-define-protection-areas-against-air-traffic-noise.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2014|access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

==== Economy ====
Under the Brandt Administration, West Germany attained a lower rate of inflation than in other industrialised countries at that time,<ref name="Prittie"/> while a rise in the standard of living took place, helped by the floating and revaluation of the mark.<ref name="Prittie"/> This was characterised by the real incomes of employees increasing more sharply than incomes from entrepreneurial work, with the proportion of employees' incomes in the overall national income rising from 65% to 70% between 1969 and 1973, while the proportion of income from entrepreneurial work and property fell over that same period from just under 35% to 30%.<ref name="autogenerated7"/> In addition, the percentage of West Germans living in poverty (based on various definitions) fell between 1969 and 1973.{{sfnp|Flora|1986|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=GaWtd5zJfB8C&pg=PA54 54]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chartbookofeconomicinequality.com/inequality-by-country/germany/|title=Germany – Chartbook of Economic Inequality|website=Chartbookofeconomicinequality.com\accessdate=2017-04-17}}</ref> According to one estimate, the percentage of West Germans living in poverty fell from 9.7% to 8.9% between 1969 and 1973, and from 20.2% to 14.0% according to another estimate.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lvKFDAAAQBAJ&q=poverty%20germany%201969-1973&pg=PA95|title=Cities in Transition: New Challenges, New Responsibilities|first1=B.|last1=Blanke|first2=R.|last2=Smith|date=18 August 1999|publisher=Springer |isbn=9780333982273 |via=Google Books}}</ref> According to another estimate, the percentage of West Germans living in poverty during this period fell from 2.7% to 1.4%.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pyWtQkfScAEC&q=poverty%20germany%201969-1973&pg=PA209|page=209|title=Recent Social Trends in West Germany, 1960–1990|first1=Wolfgang|last1=Glatzer|first2=International Research Group on the Comparative Charting of Social Change in Advanced Industrial|last2=Societies|date=21 August 1992|publisher=McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP|isbn=9780773509092|via=Google Books}}</ref>