Each country has to tackle its own structural problems, and it is up to governments, parliaments and their advisors to assess what can be learned from other countries’ experiences. As far as Germany is concerned, there is no room for complacency; Germany has economic challenges of its own to face.
Four of the most important are a rapidly diminishing labour force caused by demographic trends; increasing competition on account of globalisation, which is particularly relevant for an economy that succeeds in high technology rather than in the most advanced technology; changes in the energy markets and the politically favoured energy mix; and high levels of public debt.