Recession and a deadlocked government: Is the German economy going down the drain? | To the Point

There is no point in trying to sugarcoat it: Germany, once admired for its efficiency , is stuck in a state of permanent crisis and has to watch as almost all its neighbors overtake it in key areas such as growth and innovation. Germany's problems are fundamental, its infrastructure outdated. The collapsed Bridge in Dresden is a haunting symbol of Germany’s faltering ability to hold up under pressure. A difficult future awaits, but the restructuring of industry is faltering and the ambitious switch to sustainable production is only inching forward. Why is that? Are companies not doing enough or is government policy stifling innovation? We’ll analyze the reasons and discuss what needs to happen. We ask: Recession and a deadlocked government: Is the German economy going down the drain?

Our guests:
Valerie Höhne, journalist with Germany’s leading liberal broadsheet Süddeutsche Zeitung
Vendeline von Bredow, Berlin correspondent for the Economist magazine
John Kampfner, British writer and journalist.

Chapters:
00:00 Germany is facing many challenges
03:10 Things are bad and getting worse; that’s the feeling in Germany
04:00 Insecurity spreads; government not addressing this
05:10 Dysfunctional government in Germany
06:15 Government lacking in true leadership
07:30 When Germany is in crisis, EU is in a huge crisis
10:15 A lot of things are not working and the government doesn’t give orientation
12:30 US infrastructure is also weak, but there, the economy is growing
13:30 Risk-taking-culture in Germany is weak
14:13 The environment for companies and entrepreneurship in Germany is not good
16:10 The labour market in Germany is very complicated and too regulated
17:20 Science and innovation still is very strong in Germany
20:20 The government had a tough start, inherited many problems
21:30 Economics minister Habeck made a lot of mistakes
23:40 Scholz showed leadership after the war broke out, but then he retreated
24:30 This coalition can’t solve the problems

#Germany #Recession #ToThePoint

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[JJ_]

The country is controlled by a bunch of clowns

[John_Pace]

You know Germany is bad, when a successful Italian bank is trying to takeover a failing German bank.

[listerine-prlt]

When a British journalist is invited to discuss a failed economy is like inviting funeral home owner to talk about healthcare system.

[nshadow]

Should invite engineer, technologist, business man, entrepreneur as panel instead of journalists.

[alesjalavrinovica]

I have worked in Germany for 1 year, at the university. Expected me to work overhours, weekends without extra payment. And the local Germans do overwork because they are afraid to lose their job. Old infrastructure, like, I mean, 30 years old, wired printers, Internet connection disappearing twice a day during the working hours, nothing is digitalised, restaurants don't accept card payments. I could go on and on. No, it's not only Germans who are pessimistic, it is a dire, pessimistic economy, complete lack of flexibility, forget any effectiveness and any reasonable decision making, folks in the regions are plain nationalistic and will tell you in the eye they don't like you. The worst, however, was that when I tried to point out how things could be improved, I got this attitude - it's Germany, things are too complicated. Good luck you, complicated people. Cheers to Deutsche Bahn - the laughing stock of the efficiency.

[jajadingdong]

German work culture is extremely toxic, and germans have the most fragile egos of any culture I’ve ever worked with, and are the least likely to ever admit that they’ve made a mistake. I’ve literally had Germans scream at me across a conference room because I pointed out that something was done incorrectly, even though I pointed it out in a matter of fact and impersonal way. Not even in rural France that I have this kind of behavior and unfortunately, it is ubiquitous throughout Germany, regardless of the industry. I honestly think that the lack of humor is a big part because if you can’t laugh at yourself, then you take yourself too seriously and it makes it very difficult to take feedback.

[AgentX]

Germany has closed like 9 out of its 12 nuclear reactors! The politicians not smart enough to realized that solar and wind is not 24/7 energy!😂

[josdesouza]

Germany needs to shake off the American yoke!

[richardshaw]

Extremely high energy costs will ruin any economy

[ronaldoferreira]

Interesting: Not even 1 Word about the Submission to the USA.

[Riggsnic_co]

Our economy struggling with uncertainties, housing issues, foreclosures, global fluctuations, and pandemic aftermath, causing instability. Rising inflation, sluggish growth, and trade disruptions need urgent attention from all sectors to restore stability and stimulate growth.

[laimutisvaitkus]

As a Lithuanian, I can handle most of the bureaucracy at home online, and as far as I know, this is not the case in Germany

[stochasticwhistles]

It's not only cheap gas, oil and Russian market which are missing. Fertilisers, grain and all the other resources which were coming as well. Everything has to be acquired elsewhere with extra price.
On top of that the whole European security structure is going to be restructured soon. As well as world's economic structure is changing.

[angeljuegue]

Europe needs to think for itself instead of being a lapdog for the USA

[irvingchies]

If I was Germany right now, I would be depressed too

[SoNonWoo]

The biggest problem is arrogance. Can’t teach someone who already knows everything.

[Asdg-mo]

Jajaja. The opening statement is so funny "Efficiency". Based on a country where people still use fax to send or receive info, plenty of documentation must be handed over on paper, no emails, etc.

[ngkhai]

I studied here in Germany, graduated and now working as an Engineer, I would definitely say the environment is too stringent and not business-friendly. I am registering for an license to operate a food-related part-time business that sells food in publics event. I have to run 3 different departments and 4 months of wait.

After going through all the hardship and finally getting a license to operate, Finanzamt/Ordnungsamt is chasing my back asking for documents and insurance commitments. Imagine I am just operating a small business that does not aim to generate >10k in revenue, and I have to obtain tonnes of paper works and licenses before I have the "Right" to operate. Just forget about being a Tech entrepreneur, you waste your valuable time building your product/service to paperwork.

[robertyoung]

Journalists interviewing journalists... DW, you can do better....

[josepedrosantiagosilva]

In Europe, there's a growing sense of neglect towards the younger generation. They face lower salaries, longer work hours, and increased responsibilities while witnessing a surge in billionaires, particularly in countries like Germany.
The housing market adds to their woes, as property prices soar, making it difficult to afford homes, let alone start families. To compensate, cheap labor from abroad is often favored, leading to frustration among the youth, who feel betrayed.
People aren't inherently racist, but this frustration arises when governments prioritize external labor over addressing domestic issues. It's high time politicians acknowledge and tackle these pressing concerns rather than resorting to distractions. The younger generation deserves meaningful change. That's why you need skill workers because you were exploiting your young generation.