Too many numbers, not enough messages

The authors argue that while the Green finance policy plan was technically sound and based on party consensus, its overly technocratic communication and focus on numbers over vision led to electoral losses. They contend that the party failed to link tax proposals to a broader Green economic vision, such as the Green New Deal, and failed to motivate key social groups or counter negative campaigning from opponents. The text concludes that future campaigns must prioritize a positive, value-driven narrative and clearly articulate the macroeconomic benefits of green investments to avoid being perceived as mere 'number-crunchers'.

• The Green finance policy plan contributed to a loss of votes in the election because the party's communication was too technocratic and lacked a clear vision, focusing on detail rather than a compelling narrative.
• Voters misperceived the financial impact of the Green tax plans, believing they would suffer more than they actually would, partly because campaigners were unable to explain the complex figures and jargon.
• The party failed to connect its tax policies to a broader economic strategy, such as the Green New Deal, which could have highlighted job creation and benefits for the SME and skilled trades sectors.
• Despite the electoral setback, the authors maintain that the finance plan was a product of internal consensus and was necessary to fund essential goals like the energy transition, rail network expansion, and the 'debt brake'.
• The party's commitment to absolute transparency and detail made them vulnerable to attacks and contrasted unfavorably with the vague political style of Angela Merkel.
• To improve future outcomes, the authors suggest identifying allies in sectors facing underinvestment, such as those dealing with railway, bridge, and road repairs, or energy-saving retrofitting of buildings.

APA

Andresen, R., Dröge, K., Herrmann, C., & Kindler, S.-C. (2013). Too many numbers, not enough messages. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/too-many-numbers-not-enough-messages/

Chicago

Andresen, Rasmus, Katharina Dröge, Clara Herrmann, and Sven-Christian Kindler. Too many numbers, not enough messages. Green European Journal, 2013. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/too-many-numbers-not-enough-messages/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Andresen |first1=Rasmus |last2=Dröge |first2=Katharina |last3=Herrmann |first3=Clara |last4=Kindler |first4=Sven-Christian |title=Too many numbers, not enough messages |publisher=Green European Journal |date=15 October 2013 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/too-many-numbers-not-enough-messages/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{andresen2013too, author = {Andresen, Rasmus and Dröge, Katharina and Herrmann, Clara and Kindler, Sven-Christian}, title = {{Too many numbers, not enough messages}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2013}, month = oct, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/too-many-numbers-not-enough-messages/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }