Germany's Economy, Its Successes and Challenges

Germany's economy is expected to produce $4.2 trillion in 2019 as measured by nominal gross domestic product. The nation is the world's fourth-largest economy following the United States, China, and Japan. To compare countries' GDPs, you must use purchasing power parity. Some say that Germany flourished as Chancellor Angela Merkel led the country to robust economic growth and record-low unemployment rates.

Germany's Economic Growth Statistics

In 2017, Germany's GDP growth rate was 2.4% better than it had been in the previous year. Germany's GDP per capita was $46,749 in 2017, better than the 2016 average of $45,923. It's lower than the $53,129 enjoyed in the United States and less than the European Union overall at $36,593.

Before the 2008 financial crisis, Germany's growth was less than 1% per year, for three reasons:

1. Modernization of Eastern Germany costs $70 billion per year at first. By 2008, spending had dropped to $12 billion.
2. High unemployment (9.5%) and an aging population (20% aged 65+). That means Germany depletes its Social Security fund faster than it can add to it via payroll taxes.
3. Germany managed to get its budget deficit below 3% of GDP, as mandated by the EU. It lowered fiscal spending, and the country advocates this method to solve the Greek debt crisis.

Type of Economy

Germany has a mixed economy. It allows a free market economy in consumer goods and business services. But the government imposes regulations even in those areas to protect its citizens. Germany has a command economy in defense since everyone receives the benefit, while those with higher incomes pay more in taxes. The government provides health care insurance and education. That means you pay into the system according to your income and receive benefits according to your need.

Benefits From Eurozone Membership

Germany benefits from its membership in the EU and its adoption of the euro. Like many other eurozone members, the power of the euro means interest rates stay low, which has spurred investment.

In fact, many say that Germany profits the most from its membership. Its strong manufacturing base means it has plenty to export to other members of the eurozone and does so more cheaply, giving German companies a competitive advantage that only improves over time. That creates prosperity, giving German consumers more money to spend locally. As a result, the domestic market recently became a more significant driver of economic growth.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Current Chancellor Angela Merkel was a physicist and economic reformer from East Germany. She won the 2005 election by promising reform to lower the 11.5% unemployment rate.

The recession allowed Merkel to successfully push through stimulus efforts and tax cuts. This increased Germany's budget deficit to 3.3%, violating the EU's 3% debt-to-GDP ratio. Merkel had to impose austerity measures such as a sales tax increase and higher taxes on the wealthy. That's why she pushed for similar measures to resolve the Greek debt crisis. Opposition to her leadership delayed resolution, which resulted in its expansion to a eurozone debt crisis.

How Germany Overcame Historic Struggles With Unemployment

In 2017, unemployment was 3.8%. That's better than the 7.7% rate during the recession. Germany struggled with high unemployment for historical and cultural reasons.

First, Germany's laws made it difficult to lay off workers and lower wages. Second, the reunification of East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall heightened unemployment. The economy had to absorb workers from the former Communist bloc. Third, the culture supports saving for a rainy day rather than spending that would boost the economy.

Unemployment would have been worse in Germany were it not for reforms launched between 1998 through 2005. The government-subsidized businesses to reduce working hours. That kept people employed during the recession, although only part-time.

Unique German-Russian Relations

While president of the EU in 2007, Merkel met with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at his private country retreat, Bocharov Ruchey, in Sochi. Merkel and Putin enjoyed a relatively cordial relationship. That was thanks to Putin’s fluency in German and Merkel’s schooling in then-Communist Eastern Germany, which gives her a good command of Russian.

Merkel arrived just one week after Russia cut off gas supplies to Belarus, which carried the main pipeline to Europe. Merkel got assurances that Putin’s pipeline politics would not affect the EU's or Germany's energy supply. Russia does not want to jeopardize German foreign direct investment in Russia or bilateral trade. Putin also agreed to:

• A new EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
• Acceleration of a gas pipeline construction to Germany under the Baltic Sea
• Construction of an oil pipeline leading to Russia's Pacific Coast, to avoid going through “transit countries” Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland
• Establishment of a gas reservoir in Germany, adding a new distribution center for Russian gas

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)