http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html

"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic
Research, gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his
audience: "Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has
seen less growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the
turn of the millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly
and where two out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to
continue searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile,
he announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the
weak economic results, is Germany."


--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll

On 23/09/2014 16:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html


"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic
Research, gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his
audience: "Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has
seen less growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the
turn of the millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly
and where two out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to
continue searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile,
he announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the
weak economic results, is Germany."

Also interesting:

"In May, BASF CEO Kurt Bock announced a new ‚¬1 billion investment, the
largest in company history, on the American Gulf Coast. In explaining
the decision, the executive noted that natural gas in the United States
costs only a third of what it does in Germany."


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Well its all relative and also it depends on the viewpoint of what is good.
Economies that go berserk tend to go from boom to bust and that is not good
either.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html

"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic Research,
gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his audience:
"Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has seen less
growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the turn of the
millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly and where two
out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to continue
searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile, he
announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the weak
economic results, is Germany."


--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the rare
story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. - Erwin Knoll

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html

"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic Research,
gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his audience:
"Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has seen less
growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the turn of the
millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly and where two
out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to continue
searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile, he
announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the weak
economic results, is Germany."

F****d up by the EUSSR.

John Rumm wrote


On 23/09/2014 16:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html


"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic
Research, gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his
audience: "Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has
seen less growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the
turn of the millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly
and where two out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to
continue searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile,
he announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the
weak economic results, is Germany."

Also interesting:

"In May, BASF CEO Kurt Bock announced a new ¤1 billion investment, the
largest in company history, on the American Gulf Coast. In explaining
the decision, the executive noted that natural gas in the United States
costs only a third of what it does in Germany."


It's even cheaper in Saudi.

On 23/09/14 17:50, Brian Gaff wrote:
Well its all relative and also it depends on the viewpoint of what is good.

It is indeed.

If heaven exists but the streets were downgraded to silver from gold,
would you not wish to go there?

On 23/09/2014 17:51, harryagain wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html

"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic Research,
gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his audience:
"Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has seen less
growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the turn of the
millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly and where two
out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to continue
searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile, he
announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the weak
economic results, is Germany."

F****d up by the EUSSR.

How ironic when natural gas prices are fixed by Russia aka USSR!

On 23/09/2014 16:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-990903.html


"When Fratzscher, the head of the German Institute for Economic
Research, gives a talk these days, he likes to pose a question to his
audience: "Which country is this?" He then describes a place that has
seen less growth than the average among euro-zone countries since the
turn of the millenium, where productivity has only increased slightly
and where two out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000.

Fratzscher usually doesn't have to wait long before people begin raising
their hands. "Portugal," one person offers; "Italy," says another;
"France," exclaims a third. The economist allows his audience to
continue searching for the right answer, until, with a triumphant smile,
he announces the answer. The country he is looking for, the one with the
weak economic results, is Germany."



And relatively low growth can, of course, be a good thing. And the real
wage figure was distorted (happily, IMO) by a dip in bonuses (and bonus
culture) in 2013.

Not sure who his audience was.
--
Cheers, Rob

On 26/09/2014 08:15, RJH wrote:


And relatively low growth can, of course, be a good thing. And the real
wage figure was distorted (happily, IMO) by a dip in bonuses (and bonus
culture) in 2013.


"two out of three employees earn less today than they did in 2000."

You're claiming this is because of bonuses? I'd like to see you elaborate.

I believe it is a natural consequence of free trade and the need to
compete against cheaper international labour.

It is an absolutely core issue for anyone in a affluent country to
consider. How to distribute wealth fairly when most workers can no
longer command a good wage. Doing it by wealth and earning taxes is
problematic.


Not sure who his audience was.