This Selected Issues paper examines Germany’s growth record in 1992–2001 and analyzes how future performance might be enhanced. The paper focuses on the longer-term strains on the public finances. It reviews Germany’s external competitiveness, which deteriorated substantially in the wake...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that Germany’s economy is poised for a fragile recovery, after having barely grown since mid-2000. The earlier price shocks and interest rate hikes that contributed to the current slowdown have now unwound. However, sluggish global growth, stock...

The staff report for the 2004 Article IV Consultation on Germany highlights economic developments and policies. Profitability in nonfinancial firms has picked up, and corporate balance sheets are being repaired. On the policy front, Germany has made important headway over the past year in...

This Selected Issues paper on Germany reviews investment trends and business capital stock in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Sharp wage increases are found to boost capital formation in the short term as employers substitute capital for labor at a rate...

The 2003 Article IV Consultation discussions took place against a backdrop of serious concerns about the health and prospects for the economy. The authorities saw the revised policy strategy as providing an important boost to confidence and the right balance of supply-side initiatives and...

The study on selected issues first focuses on business fixed investment, then analyzes the profitability of Germany’s banking sector and looks at restructuring options, and finally, examines the international dimensions of Germany’s financial sector. The paper reviews the various ways in...

The German economy has been experiencing as many setbacks as achievements. Continued wage moderation will be essential to aid recovery. Macroeconomic policies are limited by euro area constraints and the sizable public debt burden. Expenditure restraint is the cornerstone of the fiscal...

This 2012 Article IV Consultation reports that the German economy’s performance has been remarkable despite facing considerable headwinds. Several conditions are now in place in Germany for a domestic demand-led recovery. Employment creation has been robust and unemployment at 5.3 percent is...

This Selected Background Issues paper examines the process of international financial integration in Germany, focusing on both banking and securities markets. The examination is useful both because of the size and importance of Germany’s economy and because of the structure of its financial...

This paper reviews economic developments in Germany during 1990–95. In early 1995, both western and eastern Germany seemed well poised to continue on their respective growth paths. However, the economy was then confronted by a sharp nominal appreciation of the deutsche mark—translating into...