In difficult times, the search for culprits is booming.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck is currently receiving a good deal of verbal beatings for his regulation on the gas levy, because the billion-dollar compulsory levy on gas customers is being distributed with the watering can.
For his part, the green political darling of the masses has already identified the culprits who are keeping him awake.
They are companies whose businesses seem to be doing well given the circumstances, but who still reach out for help.
Habeck speaks of "free riders" that he wants to push down.
After all, things are different, as the utility RWE shows, which wants to forego money from the levy.
So now greedy managers who don't want to hear should feel.
Just refuse money?
But be warned against simple answers in this case.
In principle, the Stock Corporation Act obliges management and supervisory boards to protect and increase the assets of their shareholders.
If they act contrary to this, there is a risk of severe consequences, including claims for damages, which can be painful despite appropriate manager insurance - not to mention the subsequent career break.
In the 21st century, board members are not degraded to pure profit machines in Friedman's sense, but in the spirit of stakeholder capitalism, a good image can also be worth high investments.
Nevertheless, it is quite a challenge for a CEO to simply turn down money voluntarily offered by the state.
Given the low level of business in Russia, this step was certainly easier for RWE boss Krebber than for many a competitor.
Minister of Economics Habeck must therefore be careful not to lose his balance when swinging the moral club wildly.
Instead of urging the economy to voluntarily renounce itself afterwards, his ministry should simply have worked better beforehand and tailored the aid precisely to those in need.
The old federal government showed during the pandemic that such a design does not automatically have to fail because of the principle of equal treatment.