The author analyzed Germany's Balance of Payments during the years of the European financial crisis. Particular focus thereby rests on Germany's traditionally strong current account surplus, but also on its extraordinarily large financial account surplus.
Table of Contents
Germany’s widening current account surplus
Investment abroad: How Germany finances its current account surplus
Germany as an increased target of foreign direct investment
Looking Forward
Objectives & Topics
The document analyzes the factors contributing to Germany's consistent current account surplus from 2008 to 2015, examining how the country managed economic recovery after the global financial crisis and how it leverages its financial account for international investments.
- Analysis of Germany's current account surplus relative to GDP.
- Impact of wage growth and labor market dynamics on economic competitiveness.
- The role of the financial account and foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies.
- Strategic positioning of German firms and FDI inflows from China.
- Future economic challenges related to aging demographics and growth prospects.
Excerpt from the Book
Germany’s widening current account surplus
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s Germany documented a current account deficit, however, since 2002 the country has moved into a current account surplus position. Nowadays, the German surplus ranks amongst the highest in the world and has proven to be extremely stable, even in times of financial crisis.
As seen in graphic 1, Germany’s current account surplus relative to GDP rose relatively steadily from 2008-2015, even throughout the 2008 financial crisis. This does, however, not mean that Germany’s export-oriented economy remained completely unaffected by the resulting financial and economic chaos. When looking at how German exports of goods changed, which is by far most important aspect of the German economy, it becomes apparent that also Germany’s industries had to accept financial losses when exports of goods relative to GDP dropped to 37.80% in 2009 from 43.46% in the preceding year. In Germany, especially the automobile industry was negatively affected by the implications of the crisis and had to lower its productions.
Nevertheless, Germany made a relatively fast recovery compared to other countries in the Eurozone, leading Germany’s trade surplus to continue to grow. This can partly be explained by the German government’s swift policy initiatives that were taken in response to the emerging crisis which made sure that employment numbers as well as domestic demand did not plummet. In this regard, the German government awarded consumers with certain subsidies when exchanging their old products for new ones (“Abwrackprämie”), and implemented a short-term labor program which allowed industries to reduce working hours without having to lay off workers (“Kurzarbeit”). Once the worst part of the crisis was over, it then allowed industries to quickly move up productivity again.
Summary of Chapters
Germany’s widening current account surplus: Discusses the evolution of Germany’s trade balance from a deficit to a stable surplus and identifies key government policy responses, such as subsidies and labor programs, that facilitated a quick recovery from the 2008 financial crisis.
Investment abroad: How Germany finances its current account surplus: Examines the financial account dynamics, highlighting the rise of German foreign direct investment and how ECB interest rate policies supported international financing activities.
Germany as an increased target of foreign direct investment: Explores the trend of foreign entities, particularly Chinese investors, acquiring German mid-sized "Hidden Champion" companies to gain market positioning and intellectual property.
Looking Forward: Outlines future challenges for the German economy, including mounting international pressure to reduce the current account surplus and the long-term impact of an aging population on growth.
Keywords
Balance of Payments, Current Account Surplus, Germany, Foreign Direct Investment, GDP, Financial Crisis, Labor Market, Kurzarbeit, Trade Surplus, Hidden Champions, Economic Growth, Eurozone, Monetary Policy, Wage Growth, Competitiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the drivers and financial management of Germany’s significant current account surplus during the period 2008–2015, particularly focusing on its resilience during the financial crisis.
What are the central themes of the analysis?
Key themes include the balance between export-led growth and domestic demand, the role of labor market policies like "Kurzarbeit," and the trends in foreign direct investment both into and out of Germany.
What is the research goal of this document?
The goal is to explain the historical shift to a current account surplus in Germany and to analyze how the country leveraged its financial account to maintain economic stability and competitiveness on the global market.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The work utilizes a descriptive analysis of macroeconomic indicators, referencing statistical data from the IMF, OECD, and the German Federal Office of Statistics to interpret economic trends via graphical data visualization.
What aspects are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the development of the trade surplus, the impact of wage growth trends, the structure of German foreign investments, and the changing landscape of foreign ownership in the German mid-sized business sector.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Relevant keywords include Balance of Payments, Current Account Surplus, Foreign Direct Investment, Financial Crisis, and German economic competitiveness.
How did German labor market policies contribute to economic stability?
The implementation of "Kurzarbeit" allowed industries to retain skilled staff by reducing working hours during the crisis rather than laying them off, enabling a quicker recovery once the economic environment stabilized.
Why are German "Hidden Champions" significant for foreign investors?
These medium-sized businesses are often global market leaders in their niche segments, making them attractive targets for foreign investors—especially from China—looking to acquire intellectual property and stronger European market access.
What is the outlook for Germany’s current account surplus?
The paper anticipates continued international pressure to reduce the surplus, compounded by an aging population and slowing GDP growth rates, which may hinder future economic expansion.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bachelor of Arts Fabian Hoffmann (Autor:in), 2018, Germany's Balance of Payments from 2007 - 2018, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/438064
