How unjust is Germany really? Has there been a neoliberal dismantling of the welfare state that has left only a "soup kitchen welfare state," as is often claimed? Georg Cremer subjects the prevailing discourse of decline to a reality check and shows that while not everything is fair in Germany, it is indeed fairer than many believe. Those who follow our debates read a lot about social coldness, rising poverty, and growing inequality, but little about the achievements of the welfare state. Meanwhile, the number of people employed in this sector is steadily increasing. Today, we spend almost 30 percent of our annual economic output on the welfare state, compared to 26 percent at the time of reunification. When the contributions of the welfare state are downplayed, when positive reform steps are dismissed as trivial or simply overlooked.