To: The Right Honourable Federal Minister of Economic
Affairs Mr. Sigmar Gabriel
From: Athinarayanan Sanjeevraja
Date: January 20, 2014
RE: German Economy 2014
Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. Sigmar Gabriel
Excellency,
Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, let me start by
paying my respects to you and through you to.
The Honourable Federal
Minister, Germany’s economy grew just 0.4 percent in 2013 due to troubles of
eurozone and exports were flat. German economy is expected to improve due to
eurozone is showing the sign of recovery, raising domestic consumption and
exports will pick up during this fiscal.
The Honourable
Federal Minister, it is my belief that a Germany economic model requires in
both exports and domestic demand. Germany should pay more attention to raising
domestic demand as well as export to put growth on sounder footing. Germany is
an export-led growth model. There is a tendency that exports have a stronger
impact on economic growth when a country has a higher ratio of openness to
international trade. Thus, the export led growth model ultimately requires ever
growing export surpluses. It effectively requires exploding foreign debt ratios
of its trade partners. Germany’s export surplus has risen to a record high. But
exports cannot keep with the high expansion speed of the last few years. The
export led growth model is affiliated with several structural problems. For
instance, consumer market in developed economies, emerging market economies,
declining relative price of manufactured goods, increasing trade barriers and
financing difficulties making the export led growth model perilous. Moreover,
German export markets in the eurozone are only expected to provide weak
stimulus. Germans products continue to be in demand throughout world. Thus,
Germany should pay more attention to superior technology, producing more
sophisticated goods which leads to more efficient management practices while
stimulating innovation and technological advance. Technology intensive exports
always have a significant positive effect on economic growth. Other side,
exports of products with low technological intensity exhibits a negative effect
on economic growth. Thus, Germany should export more value added products, with
special focus on high technology exports. Better economic growth performance is
also enhanced if Germany specialise set of products rather than export a large
set of products. German government should support high technology exports. For
that Germany should sharpening competitive edge of the manufacturing industry
through development of machinery and component industries and nurturing of
small and medium size firms.
The Honourable
Federal Minister, German economy is an export led growth model which has
benefited from globalisation. Germany will try to remain the world’s pre-eminent
producer of high quality equipments and cars. Saving on raw material and energy
consumption fits that pattern as it reduces costs. Producing equipments and
cars that use less energy also fits that pattern, as it increases the non-price
competitiveness of German exports when customers face higher energy prices. The
further development of German economy largely depends on the outcome of the
euro crisis. Presently, euro-zone is showing the sign of recovery. I hope that
eurozone can overcome the crisis completely during this fiscal and German
economy might continue with its export lead growth model. If Germany adopted a
new growth model based on domestic demand rather than on export surpluses, the
long term stability and growth of the European economy better served. Expansion
of domestic consumption would require higher wage growth, more equitable
distribution of income and more government spending, particularly on education
and healthcare. A better education system which would correct the class bias of
the present system and increase productivity and employability.
The Honourable
Federal Minister, successful and sustained economic growth requires growth in
both exports and domestic demand. Thus, Germany should pay more attention to
raising domestic demand as well as exports for the growth of both Germany and
European economy.
Thank you very much
for your attention.
Sincerely Regards,
Athinarayanan
Sanjeevraja.
Athinarayanan
Advisory Authority
Athinarayanan
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