1. German/American Relations America learning from the German Economy By: Brian Becker 1090-012

2. Statistics: Germany is beating the U.S. in nearly all levels of economic development. Germany is beating the U.S. in nearly all levels of economic development.

3. Statistics (Cont.): America loses approximately 200,000 jobs each year, leaving them with a current America loses approximately 200,000 jobs each year, leaving them with a current Germany boasts a shocking trade surplus of the equivalent of $158 billion, compared to the U.S. deficit of nearly $600 billion. Germany boasts a shocking trade surplus of the equivalent of $158 billion, compared to the U.S. deficit of nearly $600 billion.

4. German Model: Focuses primarily upon exporting goods to the ever growing Chinese companies. Focuses primarily upon exporting goods to the ever growing Chinese companies. Their focus on small business, and German- made products allows their economy to be self sufficient. Their focus on small business, and German- made products allows their economy to be self sufficient.

5. German Model (Cont.): The german idea of Kurzarbeit allows companies to hold onto skilled workers in times of economic instability. The german idea of Kurzarbeit allows companies to hold onto skilled workers in times of economic instability. This idea makes the company suffer in short term profit, but allows them to keep skilled labor to continue investing for the future. This idea makes the company suffer in short term profit, but allows them to keep skilled labor to continue investing for the future.

6. U.S. Model: Today, only 9% of Americans work in factories, preferring instead to import products. Today, only 9% of Americans work in factories, preferring instead to import products. The loss of jobs to foreign workers has led to an increase in unemployment (currently 8%), and thus a weaker economy. The loss of jobs to foreign workers has led to an increase in unemployment (currently 8%), and thus a weaker economy.

7. How the U.S. is Adapting: The U.S. in the long run has done very little to adapt, but think tanks have been created to look into future policies. The U.S. in the long run has done very little to adapt, but think tanks have been created to look into future policies. The U.S. has begun looking into government and state support for research and development of new production policies. The U.S. has begun looking into government and state support for research and development of new production policies.

8. Questions: To whom does Germany focus its exports? To whom does Germany focus its exports? Is the U.S. ahead, or behind Germany in foreign trade? Is the U.S. ahead, or behind Germany in foreign trade?

9. Answers: China China Behind Behind

10. Sources: http://www.spiegel.de/international/b usiness/0,1518,822167-2,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/b usiness/0,1518,822167-2,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/b usiness/0,1518,822167-2,00.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/b usiness/0,1518,822167-2,00.html http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R409 61.pdf http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R409 61.pdf http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R409 61.pdf http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R409 61.pdf http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/2 2/business/la-fi-germany-middle-class- 20120122 http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/2 2/business/la-fi-germany-middle-class- 20120122 http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/2 2/business/la-fi-germany-middle-class- 20120122 http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/2 2/business/la-fi-germany-middle-class- 20120122

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