The unemployment rate in Germany hit an 18-year low last fall amidst this worldwide recession

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.minnpost.com/worldcsm/2011/01/31/25336/germany_%E2%80%93_the_new_mini-superpower

Germany – the new mini-superpower

By Robert Marquand | Published Mon, Jan 31 2011 8:37 am

BERLIN — Quietly at first but less so now, Germany is breaking out of its postwar identity – the assumptions and understandings that held it in place for 60 years. Germany is shedding the past, busting old taboos and being more assertive. What an evolving Germany will look like in 20 or even five years is unclear, but will have profound consequences for Europe and the West. Much of the recent breakout is due to a rising German industrial base achieved by elbow grease, niche market savvy, and, as is often said here, by "doing our homework."

Germans have looked around lately to find they have the preeminent world-class export economy in Europe. No one else comes close. German precision tools are coveted in Asia and Russia like Fabergé eggs. Germany is building much of the Summer Olympic and World Cup facilities in Brazil. The next generation of Eurostar trains linking the Continent and Britain will be made by Siemens of Germany, not, as they traditionally have been, by Alstom of France – a blow to French pride. snip


Overall, Germany spent $120 billion a year in the 1990s to unify the country and rebuild its infrastructure, training its sights on the global marketplace. That helped it pull away from the rest of the EU. Forty percent of Germany's exports now go to the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). The closest EU competitor ships less than 10 percent. German machine-tool exports alone spiked 128 percent between 2009 and 2010. The unemployment rate in Germany hit an 18-year low last fall – 7.5 percent.

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[CurtEastPoint]

2. The US used to be renowed mfrs of quality stuff. Why not again? n/t

[NNN0LHI]

4. Haven't you notice that the people demanding better quality have something in common?

They all become hysterical when someone begins scrutinizing the quality of their own work?

Don

[AngryAmish]

15. Before the US, Germany made the best stuff in the world

Then we bombed the place flat. Then divided the country. Half of the country then had to live under the most absurd system yet devised, while the other work had to listen to Kraftwerk. Ok, the Kraftwerk crack was uncalled for.

Anyway, it could be that reunification has finally taken hold - plus a vast common market with low trade barriers helps an export driven economy like Germany.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. this is because germany has no unemployment compensation,

no universal healthcare, and underfunds its educational system, a system that is focused on test scores rather than training young humans to be useful citizens.

Oh wait...

[ThomCat]

7. Ha Ha! +1

Yes, when you change everything to suit the very rich, and funnel all the wealth society creates into their already over-stuffed pockets, creating institutionalized poverty for the overwhelmed masses, you don't end up like Germany today.

Which nation to you end up being?

I'll take "US History" for $400, Alex.

[prolesunited]

9. That one made me laugh

Maybe I should move to Germany. Both my parents came from German immigrants.

Oh, and you forgot to mention the fact they've given up on sending armies to invade foreign lands.

[shanti]

18. there you go!

if we cut our defense spending like germany has, we'd probably be doing fine.

[Blue_Tires]

14. Don't forget their workforce is 100 percent non-union, too!!

;-)

[Warren Stupidity]

16. exactly right!

no wonder they are so competitive.

[Hannah Bell]

17. actually, the german "agenda 2010" was a move toward neo-lib policies.

In 2003-05, German chancellor Gerhard Schröder implemented a free market reform agenda called "Agenda 2010" which included tax cuts, unemployment benefits cuts and less strict labor regulations.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Stefan-Karlsson-s-Blog/2011/0106/How-Germany-defeated-unemployment

and is being touted as the reason for their relatively good position.

[WiffenPoof]

5. So, What Are They Doing...

that we are not doing?

-PLA

[CurtEastPoint]

6. See #3! n/t

[Vincardog]

8. They have a law that 1/2 of their company BOD have to be elected by their employees

[keith the dem]

10. It's even worse than the numbers indicate!

There is nothing there like the partial empoyment we have here. The under or partially emloyed don't show up on our unemployment numbers. There, if you have a job you have a living wage, full benefits, and 5 weeks vacation.

[OHdem10]

11. This is what happens when a Country looks out for its own interest

Germany participates in Trade but manages their policies
expertly.

They strongly supported and strengthened their Manufacturing
Base. Key to any countries success. If you do not make
and sell your own products, eventually you cannot sustain
your economy.

Have some controls over companies moving out of the country./
For Instance, Kept the highest end Mercedes to built in Germany
while permitting some lines of Mercedes to be produced here.

Germany works with Business but simultaneously looks out
for the good of the country and their people.

[uponit7771]

12. Germans count REAL UE rate based on UN calculations not US's U3 rate. US EU rate is 15% - 18% now...

... according to U6 rate.

[pinqy]

19. Wrong

Germany now uses the ILO definition, which is the same as the US U-3 with minor differences such as an upper limit on age.
Eurostat Definition

Unemployed persons comprise persons aged 15 to 74 who were:
a. without work during the reference week,
b. currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment before the end of the two weeks following the reference week;
c. actively seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in the four weeks period ending with the reference week to seek paid employment or self-employment or who found a job to start later, i.e. within a period of at most three months.

Nobody has ever used anything close to the U-6 as an official rate, and I double dog dare you to show where you got the ridiculous idea that the UN or the EU uses anything close to it.

[Change Happens]

13. I think Sweden had similar economic indicators, way too strong...etc.

God damn socialists!!!

:sarcasm:

[JHB]

20. Jeeze, just look what happens when New Dealers write your constitution....

Companies with 500 or more emplyees are required to have employee representation for a third of their board memebers. For companies with 2000 or more employees, it goes up to half the board.

Might that have an effect on where the company invests its money? :shrug:

http://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-Relations/Across-Europe/Board-level-Representation2">Board-level employee participation across Europe