Sachsen hilft sofort - Saxony helps immediately
About this good practice
Resources needed
The Free State of Saxony spent a total of 752.5 million euros on the loan, paying out 19,287 applicants. As of September 2021, 34.5 million euros have already been repaid towards this.
Evidence of success
The labour market in Saxony has recovered quickly and was back at the level of 2018 by September 2021. The price-adjusted gross domestic product in Saxony increased by 4.3 percent in the first half of 2021 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The Free State thus recorded the second strongest growth of all German federal states. Accordingly, the programme was able to make a substantial contribution to stabilising the economic situation and the labour market.
Potential for learning or transfer
In this respect, the "Saxony helps immediately" programme is a prime example of quick and decisive action in a global crisis situation. It was implemented immediately and gave special support to companies that had fallen through the net of other support programmes. SMEs and the self-employed were particularly able to benefit.
The speed and low bureaucracy of the programme are particularly noteworthy. This aspect of good practice is particularly suitable for transfer to other regions in admissible crisis situations. Particularly the aspect that the approval process works without a house bank and the money can be disbursed quickly and flexibly. The clear success of the economic recovery also shows how effective these practices have been.