"Berlin’s legislature took a radical step to address the precarious employment situation that plagues many early-career researchers. It passed a law requiring universities to offer new postdoc hires a pathway to a permanent position"
It’s true that the recently approved law by the City-State of Berlin (see link above) is not without its flaws and will pose challenges in terms of budget compliance. However, it’s important to approach these challenges with a fresh perspective—one that isn't stuck in outdated thinking. This requires us to consider which sectors need to be stimulated in a knowledge economy, especially in the face of a looming climate crisis. This was echoed recently by the Executive Vice President of the European Union, Frans Timmermans, who expressed concern about the future his grandson—born in 2020—might face, potentially fighting for basic resources like water and food.
As for who will fund the controversial yet promising increase in post-doc positions, we must remember that Europe loses tens of billions of euros annually due to tax evasion. This is why Germany's relentless pursuit of tax evaders, even within the confines of the law, is understandable. If just 10% of this lost amount were recouped, it could fund nearly 300,000 permanent post-doc positions across Europe. This initiative is not only crucial for scientific advancement but also for Europe's economic recovery. And this statement didn’t come from a science enthusiast, but from the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, at the World Economic Forum.
PS - I won’t even need to mention the obvious: society desperately needs substantial measures to combat the growing cult of ignorance, which I commented on back on November 1st.https://pacheco-torgal.blogspot.com/2021/11/attenborough-versus-ronaldo-or.html