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National Urban Development Policy

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Economy and Work

We all contribute to the prosperity of our community with our economic activities. How do we form a good framework for a diverse, well-connected and crisis-proof economic structure that secures regional development through its need for labour and its added value? How do we create attractive places of trade and supply that offer us all a high quality of life?

The changing world of business and work

A prosperous, stable and self-reinventing economy is a central basis for the development of our cities and communities. Sustainable growth and continuous innovation are based on a range of well-trained and skilled workers with creative milieus in multifunctional cities and districts, a broad scientific landscape, an active cooperation network of business, science, administration and politics and ultimately on an active social community.
The growth phase, which lasted for almost a decade, resulted in numerous developments such as continuous demand for space and resources, growing numbers of employees, the development of new forms of work, a largely compatible modernisation of the economic structure and a decline in unemployment, even in areas of structural change - albeit in some industries an increasing shortage of skilled workers becomes apparent. Sustainable production and consumption, sharing instead of owning: Currently, in order to conserve resources, possibilities of the circular economy in the sense of a sustainable change in the economy are being tested.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot yet be estimated but will have a restrictive impact on public budgets and their previously above-average investment activity. At the local level, extensive consequences for small-scale trade in district centres and commercial streets are expected. On the employment side, an increase in unemployment is not only to be expected in precarious employment, which will cause a great (also digital) need for further training and support. Digitalisation, on the other hand, can open new business areas that could have positive effects on economic and employment development.

New models for the city of the future

Urban development policy must set itself the aim of creating favourable framework conditions for balanced economic development. The support of future-oriented growth sectors and their necessary social and technical infrastructure ensures competitiveness of locations - considering the key goals of sustainable and integrated urban development.
Forward-looking space management, a strategic property policy and brownfield revitalisation as part of internal development enable demand-based availability of commercial and office space. Consulting and support services as well as exchange formats establish direct contact with start-ups and companies and they refer early to municipal conflict areas, synergy opportunities and need for action. With the district-related economic and employment promotion, housing-related and needs-based job opportunities can be created and new forms of working and doing business in the city can be tested, such as for example urban agriculture, urban production or new forms of recycling and reusing.
The National Urban Development Policy considers the topics of economy, work and urban development both as development tasks and as a social obligation, for instance in project calls or in exchange formats such as the federal congresses.