Germany’s “Hot Topic”
48% of all Germans do not want to increase the life-span of Nuclear Power plants at all, 29% are okay with an extension for a maximum of ten years, the likes of which was proposed by Environmental Minister Norbert Röttgen (CDU) in opposition to most of his colleagues. At least 77% of the German population are opposed to a longer life span that includes 15 or more years of future service, calculated Continue →
Germany’s industry is recovering unexpectedly fast. A hailstorm of orders is raining down on the train and airplane industries, and manufacturing is once again the economy’s MVP.
The most important aspect of demand is coming from abroad – foreign orders have increased by 5.7%, most of which being large scale orders in air- and space technologies as well as train cars. Domestic business has only grown by 0.3%. The department of commerce has announced expectations that industry Continue →
“I am resigning my post as federal president with immediate effect” – on May 31st, for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, a president resigned from his office. Federal president Horst Köhler, 67, accounts for his decision to resign with a lack of respect for the president’s office he had perceived. Continue →
The Islandic erupting volcano and the resulting grounding of flights pressure the 27 EU-States. The “regional” Sky is still a tentatively watched point of national interest. At least the EU member states were finally able to agree on the three-zones model by the European flight control agency Eurocontrol and the volcanic ash institution VAAC. Eyjafjallajökull is continuously spewing forth ash clouds – the last previous eruption lasting for two years – forcing airports and airlines alike to get used to spontaneously closed air traffic. Passengers would be advised to not only inform themselves about the position of the ash cloud, but also about their rights. Continue →
Germany’s premier drug store chain “Schlecker” has deemed its corporate structure too ineffective to continue in the changing German market. In 2004, with its overwhelming share of the drug store market crumbling, a restructuring of a large number of small stores seemed to be too great a burden for Germany’s largest drug retailer leading, instead, to the closure of around 1000 outlets. Recently Anton Schlecker, the owner of the drug-store chain, stated in Manager Magazine that a complete overhaul of Schlecker’s business structure is once again needed.
Since the start of its downfall in 2004, the company has experienced mostly Continue →
On February 8th, 2010, the Bundesverfassungsgericht declared the Hartz 4 social legislation for unemployed benefits and similar welfare acts, enacted as part of the Agenda 2010 reform package, unconstitutional. While this is not one of our usual economic topics, it’s repercussions for the Nation are as severe as any. Continue →
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s current Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Social Democrats’ candidate for chancellor, announced his plans for the future should the Social Democrats win the general election in September. Steinmeier introduced, as the main aspect of this so-called “Germany Plan”, a concept which would generate a job wonder by creating four million new jobs by 2020, thereby leading to full employment in Germany. While political competitors criticized the plan as being unrealistic, economists and representatives of industry and trade welcomed the concept.
Steinmeier expects to generate a job boom by Continue →
Germany’s two largest car parts suppliers seem to be heading for a showdown. It recently became public that Continental’s banks want to stop merger talks with Schaeffler in order to gain more control of the company through a capital increase. The move is seen as an assault on Continue →
The debt-ridden sports car maker Porsche scheduled an extraordinary supervisory board meeting for 23 July 2009 to debate two rival rescue plans for the company: either a possible investment by the Qatar Investment Authority or the sale of a 49 % stake in Porsche to Volkswagen.
The move came after Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking agreed with Qatar on an outline plan under which Continue →
Yesterday, the German economics ministry reported a growth in orders for German industry of a surprising 4.4 % in May 2009 over April 2009. Steel industry companies and medium-sized entities are also in a good mood at the moment. The job market and state budgets, however, remain problematic.
While orders from inside Germany grew by 3.9 % compared to April, foreign orders Continue →
