12.04.2021 - In 2016, one of the big German subsidies for maritime shipping, the wage tax withholding for seafarers on ships flying the German flag, was more than doubled from 40% to 100%. Five years later it is clear this had no impact on employment. Apparently, this failure is not a sufficient reason not to extend the aid for German shipping companies for another six years. Michael Thöne comments on this in the Bundestag hearing from the perspective of subsidy control. (In German.)