As the global financial crisis has expanded, there is considerable confusion in Germany about how to cope with the crisis and fall-out in the real economy, writes Prof. Dr. Paul J.J. Welfens, president of the European Institute of International Economic Relations (EIIW) and a former AICGS Fellow. Dr. Welfens proposes five specific ‘institutional innovations’ that would help in ending the chaos and inefficiencies in the banking systems, and argues for the introduction of a new tax regime designed to encourage bankers to have a long term time horizon in decision-making.