Comments on: Germany: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ Stories and photos from Alex Ravenel's travels through Europe Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:43:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Nach Deutschland » Germany: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part III http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-85 Sun, 12 Feb 2006 12:00:10 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-85 [...] It’s time for the third and probably last installment of Germany: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. You can read the first part here or the second part here. [...] […] It’s time for the third and probably last installment of Germany: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. You can read the first part here or the second part here. […]

]]> by: Alex Ravenel http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-50 Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:35:27 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-50 Yes, it is crazy. The funny tax laws and such that they have here are always a laugh. So many ridiculous things that you really just wouldn't think make any sense, but because of the massive bureaucracy, they happen. But still, the only places that are allowed to stay open 24 hours are clubs and gas stations. That's about it. The government mandates that most things have to be closed by 8PM. Interesting to say the least. Yes, it is crazy. The funny tax laws and such that they have here are always a laugh. So many ridiculous things that you really just wouldn’t think make any sense, but because of the massive bureaucracy, they happen.

But still, the only places that are allowed to stay open 24 hours are clubs and gas stations. That’s about it. The government mandates that most things have to be closed by 8PM. Interesting to say the least.

]]> by: James Stephenson http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-49 Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:28:15 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-49 In the army I was stationed in Bamberg for 2 and a half years, 1987-1989. I figured by now they would surely have 24 hour places. But of course, did you know if a store stays open past a certain hour they have to pay extra taxes. Crazy isn't it, also until a house is completely finished the taxes are less than when finished, so some people never finish their houses. Hated beer when I left the states, returned loving it. In the army I was stationed in Bamberg for 2 and a half years, 1987-1989. I figured by now they would surely have 24 hour places. But of course, did you know if a store stays open past a certain hour they have to pay extra taxes. Crazy isn’t it, also until a house is completely finished the taxes are less than when finished, so some people never finish their houses.

Hated beer when I left the states, returned loving it.

]]> by: One Hand Clapping » Blog Archive » Germany - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-47 Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:00:12 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-47 [...] Part One [...] […] Part One […]

]]> by: Nach Deutschland » Germany: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Part II http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-44 Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:45:22 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-44 [...] This post is part of a series. See the first entry here. [...] […] This post is part of a series. See the first entry here. […]

]]> by: Alex Ravenel http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-21 Thu, 01 Dec 2005 05:21:24 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-21 Interesting. Hopefully things are getting better, but there's not much denying that the economy here is in pretty rough shape. I'm looking forward to seeing if things change much with a new Bundeskanzler... Interesting. Hopefully things are getting better, but there’s not much denying that the economy here is in pretty rough shape. I’m looking forward to seeing if things change much with a new Bundeskanzler…

]]> by: Christoph http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-20 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:48:25 +0000 http://www.nachde.net/2005/11/09/germany-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-20 The Ugly?? Have a look at this Economist article: Germany's economy Oct 10th 2005 From Economist.com Germany's economy is the world's third-biggest and one of its most advanced. As the economic heart of Europe, its performance has far-reaching effects outside Germany, particularly in other EU countries and in Central and Eastern Europe. Lately it has been belittled, perhaps unfairly as there are some encouraging signs. Performance has been sluggish, with growth at 1.2% in 2004 and expected to rise by perhaps only 0.7% in 2005. (Things are worse in the ex-communist east.) Per capita GDP is now below the EU average. Taxes are high and complicated and red tape is thick. Meagre returns on investment, a legacy of the state-owned banks, also hinder growth, as does a system of consensus-led corporate governance. Recently however, unit labour costs have declined substantially against the rest of the euro zone’s and exports are beginning to benefit. In 2003 Gerhard Schröder launched “Agenda 2010”, making labour-market reform a top priority and spurring negotiation between industry and the unions. Neither these reforms nor reduced taxation have done much to improve consumer confidence for Germany's industrial workers, who are now unemployed in large numbers. Copyright © 2005 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved. The Ugly??
Have a look at this Economist article:

Germany’s economy
Oct 10th 2005
From Economist.com

Germany’s economy is the world’s third-biggest and one of its most advanced. As the economic heart of Europe, its performance has far-reaching effects outside Germany, particularly in other EU countries and in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lately it has been belittled, perhaps unfairly as there are some encouraging signs. Performance has been sluggish, with growth at 1.2% in 2004 and expected to rise by perhaps only 0.7% in 2005. (Things are worse in the ex-communist east.) Per capita GDP is now below the EU average. Taxes are high and complicated and red tape is thick. Meagre returns on investment, a legacy of the state-owned banks, also hinder growth, as does a system of consensus-led corporate governance. Recently however, unit labour costs have declined substantially against the rest of the euro zone’s and exports are beginning to benefit.

In 2003 Gerhard Schröder launched “Agenda 2010”, making labour-market reform a top priority and spurring negotiation between industry and the unions. Neither these reforms nor reduced taxation have done much to improve consumer confidence for Germany’s industrial workers, who are now unemployed in large numbers.

Copyright © 2005 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.

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