Last year, it was a close one: 0.08 percentage points, the German gross domestic product grew in the third quarter, compared to the three months prior to that. A Minus would have stood in front of it, it would have been according to the to -0.24 percent from the previous quarter, the first recession in Germany for six years. So the bad news from remained.

but the economic problems in the country: Long years, no one was on the continent, as successful as Germany. No G7 government has grown since Merkel took office in 2005, economically as strong as Germany (see graph). But a year and a half before the Chancellor assigns, crumbling the victory story. Christoph Sackmann development of the GDP.

Germany is strongly Export-focused

In the third quarter of 2019, only the Italian economy grew even slower. All other countries are drawn to Germany by. The United States led the G7-Ranking with a growth rate of 0.52 percent, ahead of Japan (0.45 per cent) and the UK (0.42 per cent). Within the EU, France is now much stronger.

What were until a few years ago the German Strengths, is now to our weaknesses. Because of the strong concentration of the economy on the Export would be. 2019 Germany according to data of the ifo-Institute, for the fourth Time in a row, the world export champion. No country In the balance between export revenue and import expenditure is higher than in Germany.

But world trade is weakening. Because of the now two-year-long trade war between the US and China, the punitive duties from Donald Trump would be first, to impose on goods such as steel and Aluminium, also from Europe, its threats, cars with punitive tariffs and the now finally completed Brexit.

In the Wake of these problems, also suffer from many of the smaller countries. Because China may export less to the USA, the Land produces less and therefore needs less raw materials from third countries. Which the money and/or the necessity to, for example, machines in Germany to buy are missing, then again.

car manufacturers are in crisis

The second strength of Germany has always been focusing on the auto industry. With Volkswagen, we have still the largest car company in the world to selling cars. In addition, two other giants come up with BMW and Daimler. This Trio has a huge suppliers industry depends on the Dax-listed company Continental to smaller companies such as Leoni and Hella. Daimler 43,62 EUR 1,26 (+2,99%) Xetra

• 1 day
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these are huge and for the GDP of important industry is To the rate of data

However, in the crisis. First, they weakened with the exhaust cheating yourself, then diesel bans, the conclusion finally arrived but the change from the internal combustion engine has been completed to the alternative drive systems from electric car to a fuel cell, in other countries faster and better than in Germany.

The politics to Merkel has supported both of these concentrations for years, and encouraged. And she's trying even now, the same mechanisms apply as in 2009. At the time of the financial crisis, it was the famous car scrappage scheme, which should help the car manufacturers. Today, there is an environmental bonus, if customers with electric cars to buy to increase sales. With the SCC-exchange of letters next to values, and in the short term and the long term Top return on investment! (Partner quote) Here is an exclusive 30-day free trial!

Merkel is looking for new markets in Africa

The Chancellor himself is trying to open up new markets for German industry. She's cross-eyed in the process, especially to Africa. There have made in the past years, Chinese companies broadly, however, the continent offers a huge potential. The 54 States of the African Union have done to a free-trade zone after the EU model. The population is young and willing to work.

But cooperation run slow. The Merkel Initiative "Compact with Africa", which aims to promote investment by German company to date has been mostly in the Sands. This is also due to the fact that for German companies the most attractive African countries for example Nigeria, to participate in it. Other countries, such as Benin or Togo are too small to invest to worthwhile.

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floor of the 5G-Expansion burdened the economy

In the domestic economy fails to progress currently, mainly due to the lack of digitisation in the country. With the new mobile radio standard 5G it would be a new Chance to attack. Necessary for a rapid Expansion of the technology would be. Now other countries of the Chancellor's throw of the stick between the legs. Particularly the discussion on the Chinese equipment supplier Huawei is problematic. Clearly, Merkel is not a Chinese spy in the German mobile radio networks wants to, but so far still no proof.

And while other countries shut out Huawei, stressed Angela Merkel last, it does not intend to do. However, the discussion hindered the Expansion. The German Provider Telekom and Vodafone complained recently, that would cost years and billions of Euros.

So little Great it seems in the last full year of the Chancellor to do on the economic front. 2021 Merkel remains only up to the summer break, time for reform. Then the election campaign and self-starts when the CDU will be victorious, will be a other then for Germany's economy. CDU-Chef Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer want to introduce you to the end of the year, a kind of shadow Cabinet, but allegedly also Friedrich Merz is expected to throw his hat in the Ring.

With him would be clear where the path went. Merz is regarded as a major economic friend. Low taxes for companies and less social benefits would then be fashionable.

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More text on the situation of the German economy

If the policy does nothing, are Germany's best economic years of the past

the retirement of The baby boomers in the retirement age the working population in Germany in the next twenty years will shrink, and thus the prospects for growth press. Even more important is to improve Germany's ailing competitiveness.

A Germany-Fund 450 billion euros, making the country fit for the future

Germany, an investment need not be offensive in the infrastructure, in order not to lose the connection. A state Fund could provide the necessary money - but it still needs more.

taxes, the price of Electricity, dilapidated roads: Germany starts again to the sick man of Europe

the Erosion of The quality of the location of Germany's revenge: The industrial production. The cause lies mainly in the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Germany threatens to be the problem child of the Eurozone.

this reader comment from the FOCUS Online article

• "Merkel has lived from the first day only of schröder's reforms. That Germany, despite Merkel still in reasonably good health is a miracle. The editor-in-chief of the business magazine Focus Money, Frank Pöpsel, has that Merkel has burned EACH DAY the government about A BILLION EUROS. This heritage can't lose - the money is already gone! Now you have squandered the Rest of our future.“
• "The Chancellor wanted to make Germany more open and has failed. The welcome policy of the rapid rise of the AfD, which has developed to the threatening CDU-competition followed. She has ploughed the political landscape. She has become a refugee Chancellor. Either you master it or fail at it. The handling of Merkel and her party, and Vice versa, has a new quality. The time of the bearing, as the parties were influenced by their social environment, is over. The System of warehouse membership has dissolved. After years of political Diaspora, the Conservatives now found in the AfD a new home. The success of the economy is based on the performance of the company for the policy sets the framework conditions.“
• "On the final straight soso. And before that, she was the best Chancellor of all time! Obviously, many Newspapers see it that way. You would have contributed during their time in government is crucial to the Well-being of the population, they would have lost not vote, almost half of its voters, there would be no AFD.“
• "Merkel is said to rival the economic Vita?? A slightly absurd idea. She is just going to destroy it with a completely disastrous turnaround in energy policy and climate-discussion the economy and the citizens of new burdens to be placed on. In the car industry and with the supplier companies, there are already the first waves of redundancies, and more are already announced. Some companies are already playing with the idea to relocate abroad.“

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Date Of Update: 05 February 2020, 13:01