The often criticized change between winter and summer time can definitely make sense from an economic perspective. “Despite some disadvantages, it makes sense to change the time twice a year,” said Professor Nicolas Ziebarth from the University of Mannheim to the German Press Agency. The change has positive and negative effects on health. With some adjustments to everyday life, the negative effects could be reduced, said the head of the “Labor Markets and Social Insurance” research area at the Leibniz Center for European Economic Research (ZEW).
Time changes have an impact on students
From the point of view of economist Ziebarth, employers and educational institutions are in demand. “Starting school and work later in the first week after the time change helps to reduce negative effects,” he said, referring to the clocks being set forward on Sunday (March 31).
Therefore, permanently different school times would make sense for training, even if Germany is traditionally a country of early risers.
Nicolas Ziebarth
Teenagers in particular need enough sleep for their development. According to him, studies also show that their performance generally improves when school or training starts later in the day – regardless of the time change. “That’s why permanently different school times would make sense for training, even if Germany is traditionally a country of early risers,” said Ziebarth.
Time change survey
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In 2018, the EU Commission surveyed citizens and 84 percent were against the change in the non-representative survey. In order to abolish it, the EU states would have to agree beforehand whether they wanted summer or winter time permanently. Because there is no agreement on this, the issue is on hold. The current Belgian EU Council Presidency also does not want to take up the issue, as it confirmed upon request. The aim of the time change, which was reintroduced in 1980, is to make better use of daylight brightness.
With permanent winter time, the sun would rise in Frankfurt am Main at 4:15 a.m. on the solstice on June 21st this year, while with permanent summer time it would only rise at 9:22 a.m. on December 21st.
Nicolas Ziebarth
With a view to a possible abolition, Professor Ziebarth names two concrete effects: “With permanent winter time, the sun would rise at 4:15 a.m. this year in Frankfurt am Main on the solstice on June 21st, while with permanent summer time it would only rise on December 21st would rise at 9:22 a.m..”