This paper analyzes Germany's fiscal policy position. Half of GDP passes through the hands of government, a high debt to GDP ratio limits the maneuvering, and the revenue sharing mechanism prevents a competitive federalism. Most importantly for the future, the federal finance minister has to...

This paper reviews the challenges and experiences in rebuilding fiscal institutions in postconflict environments, based on advice from the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department to selected countries. The recommended strategy involved a three-step process of (i) creating a proper legal framework for...

Germany's system of economic and political governance strongly relies on group decision-making and consensus to solve economic issues. This approach relates to a wide spectrum of decisions, including the social partners with the trade unions and the employers' associations in wage formation, the...

This paper analyzes China's economic performance in the last 25 years and discusses its prospect for growth in the future. China has enjoyed high annual GDP growth rates of about ten percent in the last 25 years. Exports and investment were the two driving forces of the growth process. FDI plays...

Die Konjunktur in Deutschland befindet sich am Beginn einer Schwächephase. Es ist keineswegs ausgeschlossen, dass die Wirtschaft in eine Rezession gerät, für die Prognose ist allerdings unterstellt, dass eine solche Verschärfung nicht eintritt. Wir halten es dennoch für wahrscheinlich, dass...

An Englishman once watched his first American football game. He looked intently as the team gathered into a huddle after each play. His American host asked him what he thought of the proceedings. “Not a bad sport,” remarked the visitor, “but they do seem to engage in an excessive number of...

1. Make the national labor markets more flexible in order to avoid additional unemployment. 2. Do not Europeanize wage formation. 3. Leave employment a national responsibility. 4. Do not push for a social union. 5. Resist the political demand for transfers. 6. Accept the 'one-size-fits-all'...