Evaluation staatlicher Fördermaßnahmen in Krisenzeiten: Zwischen Anspruch und Realität

German economic policy responds to crisis situations with a familiar mix of instruments comprising direct subsidies, tax incentives, and liquidity support. Despite a legal obligation to monitor cost-effectiveness and outcomes, the evaluation of these measures is often limited by methodological constraints. Causal analyses are often not feasible either because the prerequisites for traditional evaluation designs are not met in crisis situations or because there are significant data gaps. The availability, linkability and quality of support and company data are often inadequate, which makes it difficult to identify causal chains. Improvement requires the systematic integration of evaluation approaches right from the program design phase – including a clear definition of objectives, data-driven monitoring, and mandatory data provision. This ensures that evidence-based policy advice can be provided even in the face of uncertainty and time pressure.