Obviously Merz does not know the frontier of researach on economic policy. if that is the requirement then the field of available candidates becomes very thin.
In contrast to the greens, Merz does understand how business is done and that easing the cost of doing business is important for a country. Real Economic policy is much more than deciding on government spending. It is about reducing bureaucracy, ensure that building factories cannot be prevented because the local baumkäfer is disturbed, and having good foreign relations.