What is Germany doing right that we're not? And why?

[oyster]

Germany has managed, yet again, to produce a government surplus. It has also managed to lead the G7 in 2016 GDP growth.
Therefore, Germany must be a capitalist's dream.

BUT
So a generous public sector, an open immigration policy (including a million refugees recently), high union representation in corporates.
Therefore, Germany must be a socialist's dream.

[oyster]

Halb said:

Zod said:

Halb said:

markcoznottz said:

Halb said:

Guvernator said:

Yep I've always wondered this, considering they lost not 1 but 2 world wars within the last 100 years and Britain were on the side of the victors, they seem to have done a hell of a lot better than we have over the intervening period!

Germany were gifted millions in aid (as opposed to interest rate loan the UK got), Germany was destroyed utterly and the Americans rebuilt her better than ever because she was needed, new everything, couple that withthe stoic German mentality and you have a slow and steady recipe for success. UK as a victor had to carry the can, and was almost as badly fked, wealth squandered, couple that with a sort of crony capitalism where avarice and rapacity is lauded above all and you have a recipe for the modern UK.

Indeed. And we got more Marshall aid than them, and decided to build a welfare state.

ANd nuclear weapons.

The Germans have an absurdly generous welfare state. You get 60% of net salary as unemployment benefit for a year.

That is nice and generous.

This is my original question.
They have a generous welfare state, they have a generous health service. They have big government.

They also have a very productive economy which generates lots of tax.


The only difference I can imagine exists is an inability of Britain to capture the right level (and type) of tax.