Issing, O. (2014) “The German Leadership Question”, Project Syndicate, 14 April.
FRANKFURT – Many in the eurozone’s crisis countries complain that the source of their suffering is a rigid economic-austerity regime – including reductions in wages and pensions, tax increases, and soaring unemployment – imposed on them by Germany. Hostility against Germany has reached a level unseen in Europe since the end of World War II.
And yet, despite this antagonism, loud calls for Germany to assume “leadership” in Europe can also be heard. Germany is undoubtedly Europe’s most important economy; and, with low unemployment and relatively sound public finances, it is also the best-performing one – at least for the time being. So Germany is asked to take the lead in saving the eurozone, an outcome that is in the interest not only of the entire European community, but also of Germany, which is widely seen as having gained the greatest advantage from the single currency.
Relevant posts:
- Fratzscher, M. (2014) “Germany’s Pyrrhic Victory”, Project Syndicate, 10 February.
- Dustmann, C., Fitzenberger, B., Schönberg, U. & Spitz-Oener, Al. (2014) “From sick man of Europe to economic superstar: Germany’s resurgence and the lessons for Europe”, VoxEU Organisation, 03 February.
- Hill, S. (2013) “A New Growth Bloc Against Germany’s Flawed Leadership”, Social Europe Journal, 17 December.