Made in Germany – Exportweltmeister unter Druck
Topics discussed
Intro: US tariffs and pressure on German exports
IMF and World Bank criticize German trade surplus
Why Germany clings to the export model
Historical origins: The Kaiserreich and Caprivi's speech
State support and industrial lobbying in the 19th century
British observers and the rise of German brands
Post-war era: The first Hannover Messe
Case study: The Harting family business expansion
The role of the undervalued Deutsche Mark
Industry resistance to the 1961 currency revaluation
Export as national identity and low domestic demand
Global expansion and following customers abroad
Political lock-in and job dependency on exports
Rising tensions with China and technology transfer
Technological disruption and the automotive industry
Economic risks: Capital flows and global debt
Current policy debates and investment funds
Conclusion: Moving beyond the export obsession
Outro and preview of next episode
Listen ad-free on Castria