The war in Ukraine and its repercussions, compounded by structural problems such as an ageing population and a lack of investment, spell the end of the boom

The change in the geopolitical order, disrupted by the invasion of Ukraine, has exposed the weaknesses of the German economic model. The German model, points out Wolfgang Münchau in one of his analyses for Eurointelligence, hinges on three ingredients: cost competitiveness, technological leadership in its industry and geopolitical stability, and ‘all of them are gone,’ he adds. On the one hand, the cut-off of Russian gas — which accounted for more than 50% of the gas consumed in Germany — has impacted the electro-intensive industry, forcing businesses like the chemical company Lanxess to restructure their business and close plants.

  • Ooops@kbin.social
    21·
    1 year ago

    but because the Germans as a people are idiots

    Which is easily explained when pensioneers (and soon to be pensioneers) have the absolute majority and give a fuck about anything but their pensions and everything staying as it was.

    (For reference the 50/50 split of voters by age is quickly approaching 60…)

    • AggressivelyPassive@feddit.de
      182·
      1 year ago

      Yes, but even the younger ones are often vile.

      There’s a frightening large percentage of people who are just plain anti-social - and I don’t mean that as hyperbole. They care about themselves and that’s it, nothing else matters. You could see that during covid, they knew, their behavior killed, but didn’t care. Even the tiny inconvenience of wearing a mask was too much to ask.