All of which is perfectly suited for the structure of the German economy. i.e. Germany is a production economy, not a trading economy. * The German population is very de-centralised, interlinked by an excellent and well serviced rail (passenger and freight) and highway system. * German industry is also de-centralised through the Mittelstand system of small specialist manufacturers who make up the supply chain for the German behemoths. * The German university/technical college system is also de-centralised. Most Germans do tertiary study close to their home town.
The German housing system discourages mobility, as the German economic system discourages mobility. As opposed to the British economy which is a trading economy, which encourages migration to port cities to centralise all economic activity around trade and the industries that service trade (i.e. finance and insurance).
In Australia the economic policy for the past 20 years has been to develop a trading economy, even though there is no reason for Australia to be a trading hub, given our geographical location and our small population. As a result, we get the worst of both worlds.
Agree with almost all of that, especially the comments about mobility.
Very many of the people I know in Germany are still living at the same address they were living 30 years ago, including many who have rented the same dwelling the entire time.
Germany is certainly very decentralised compared to Australia. Berlin is a big city, and Hamburg has a couple of million, but after that you are hard-pressed to find a city the size of Adelaide. Some of the decentralisation comes from the reunification mentality. Adenauer was very focussed on eventual reunification and the return of the capital to Berlin. As a result no city was given enough power to challenge Berlin. Legislature in Bonn, Central Bank in Frankfurt, Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, nothing in Bavaria or Baden-Wurttemburg because Munich and Stuttgart are such strong Industry cities.....
Not so sure about most Germans doing study near their hometowns (most of my friends did not) However, the structure of German tertiary institutions makes it very hard for any institution to get a clear lead across the spectrum. It's very common to start your degree at one institution and then move to another after 3 years when you know what specialisation you are going to go into....
The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off. --Gloria Steinem AREPS™
Very many of the people I know in Germany are still living at the same address they were living 30 years ago, including many who have rented the same dwelling the entire time.
Germany is certainly very decentralised compared to Australia. Berlin is a big city, and Hamburg has a couple of million, but after that you are hard-pressed to find a city the size of Adelaide. Some of the decentralisation comes from the reunification mentality. Adenauer was very focussed on eventual reunification and the return of the capital to Berlin. As a result no city was given enough power to challenge Berlin. Legislature in Bonn, Central Bank in Frankfurt, Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, nothing in Bavaria or Baden-Wurttemburg because Munich and Stuttgart are such strong Industry cities.....
Germany is decentralised compared to England.
Germany: Population 81 million, Berlin metropolitan area, population 5 million.
England: Population 51 million, London metropolitan area, population 15 million.
As you mentioned, Hamburg has almost 2 million, but after that, not much, whereas England has Birmingham (3.6M), Manchester (2.5M), Leeds (2.3M), Liverpool (2.2M) and Newcastle, Sheffield, South Hampshire and Nottingham,all of which tend to be either on a major river or the ocean, or close to a port city.
Quote:
Not so sure about most Germans doing study near their hometowns (most of my friends did not) However, the structure of German tertiary institutions makes it very hard for any institution to get a clear lead across the spectrum. It's very common to start your degree at one institution and then move to another after 3 years when you know what specialisation you are going to go into....
Just going by the Germans I have met in Australia, who were mostly from small towns, who always went to the closest regional university for under-graduate study.
The French create, the Germans produce and the English trade.
Here’s a definition of insanity for the bulls to consider: working for almost 10 years now, saving hard and living well within my means the whole time… But the debt required to obtain a now 10 year older starter house (60′s original) is even higher than 10 years ago! What’s the fkn point of having a good job, saving hard, paying exorbitant taxes (given my wealth/age) but the carrot is no fkn closer? Put yourself in the shoes of a typical younger person, especially those younger than I, and compare the factual here and now atrocity with your fear (because that’s all it is) – and yes *if* it happens it is necessary and fair. People are more resilient than you give them credit for, no pun intended. RBA need to set rates in line with charter, end of story.
Here’s a definition of insanity for the bulls to consider: working for almost 10 years now, saving hard and living well within my means the whole time… But the debt required to obtain a now 10 year older starter house (60′s original) is even higher than 10 years ago! What’s the fkn point of having a good job, saving hard, paying exorbitant taxes (given my wealth/age) but the carrot is no fkn closer? Put yourself in the shoes of a typical younger person, especially those younger than I, and compare the factual here and now atrocity with your fear (because that’s all it is) – and yes *if* it happens it is necessary and fair. People are more resilient than you give them credit for, no pun intended. RBA need to set rates in line with charter, end of story.
It has always been thus. You can tell if you are making headway if your leverage ratio is dropping, but in general the total debt will rise with time unless you can save pretty fast.
The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off. --Gloria Steinem AREPS™
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