Sparen auf dem Land: Die Folgen der Austeritätspolitik für kleine Kommunen

Germany’s municipal fiscal crisis increasingly affects small rural municipalities along-side structurally weak cities. Drawing on the analysis of more than 1,000 consolidation agreements and qualitative interviews, this article examines how local austerity policies are implemented and experienced in rural areas. The findings show that fiscal consolidation relies heavily on tax and fee increases, spending cuts, and the retrenchment of local public services. These measures place growing pressure on civic engagement and contribute to perceptions of political neglect and spatial inequality. The article argues that persistent municipal underfunding threatens both social cohesion and democratic stability in rural regions.