Chairwoman of the Federal Association of Young Entrepreneurs (BJU), who has her own commercial enterprise.   DW-TV: I am now joined in the studio by Marie-Christine Ostermann, Chairwoman of the German Association of Young Entrepreneurs. She has her own business as well. Did you put your workers on short-time? Marie-Christine Ostermann: No, we didn’t have to use that instrument. We got along quite well. DW-TV: You were one of the lucky companies here in Germany. Lots of companies had to. I think it cost almost five billion euros just last year for short-time workers. Was it a good investment? Marie-Christine Ostermann: I think during the crisis it was a very good investment, but during the long run the companies should get on well without this instrument of short-time work. DW-TV: I think the government has extended it now until 2012. Marie-Christine Ostermann: Yes, it has. But it's a subsidy. It costs lots of money and the federal debt is so high at the moment and we really have to save money. And the economy is growing again. We really should revoke this instrument. DW-TV: So you're saying stop the short-time funding now. OK, if we were to stop it, what would you do to ensure there's not more unemployment? People who are about to lose their jobs are certainly not going to like what you're saying. Marie-Christine Ostermann: It's important to create really conditions in Germany to run a company, for example lower taxes and a higher equity ratio for the companies would be a very good thing. DW-TV: A lot of investors have been looking at Germany and they've been astounded that unemployment has remained so low right now and a lot of people are praising the short time program. Are you the minority here saying short-time is short on currency? Marie-Christine Ostermann: No, I think temporarily it's a good thing. But only in a crisis. But the crisis is over. The economy is growing again, so it's useless now. We need the workers. ...