Category Archives: Heconomy

German of the day: Preisgestaltung

June 19, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means pricing policy.

U.S. Launches Trade Investigation Against Germany Over Drug Prices – Washington accuses Berlin of underpaying for innovative drugs. If the investigation yields corresponding results, punitive tariffs could even be imposed.

The U.S. has launched a trade investigation against Germany regarding drug pricing. According to several media reports, Washington intends to examine whether innovative drugs are systematically underpaid on the German market, causing U.S. patients to bear a comparatively high share of research and development costs.

Big Bang Theory

June 8, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

And practice.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has already ruled out a “big bang” of reforms out of consideration for the SPD and a frightened public. However, the verbal de-escalation ahead of the coalition committee meeting should not obscure the extent of the need for action and, above all, who must take the initiative to help Germany emerge from the economic crisis: the SPD, led by Labor and Social Affairs Minister Bärbel Bas, as well as the labor unions. But it won’t work without the cooperation of CSU leader Markus Söder, who is at times very much a social democrat.

“Major reforms needed!”

May 28, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Home Cooking Tags: , , , Leave a comment

“But don’t even think of trying an itty-bitty reform with us!”

Healthcare staff protest plan for major cuts – Medical staff in Germany are protesting about cost-saving plans that ministers says are necessary to stop spiraling costs.

German service union Verdi is organizing protests against a round of cuts announced by the German government. The plan is aimed at reducing the burden on health insurance providers that could mean higher contributions.

De-risk is de-problem

May 27, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

No de-risk, no fun?

Germany’s China problem – and why de-risking hasn’t worked.

Dan Wang of Eurasia Group discusses the paradox of Europe’s current trade strategy, noting that Germany’s efforts to “de-risk” over the past years have actually deepened its reliance on China’s supply chain.

Shock treatment isn’t working for Germany

May 20, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

A more radical resuscitation remedy may be needed.

Germany urged to stop admiring Beijing and wake up to ‘China Shock 2.0’ – ‘China has already eaten much of German industry’s lunch and is preparing to start on dinner,’ thinktank says.

Germany must stop admiring China’s success in the EU or it will sleepwalk into the kind of deindustrialisation the US experienced 25 years ago, a leading Brussels thinktank has said.

German of the day: Insolvenz

May 11, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

That means insolvency. As in bankrupt.

As in Germany’s current coalition government under Friedrich Merz.

“Hardly any of the urgently needed structural reforms that were announced have been implemented. There is no overall plan for concrete reforms to promote growth and competitiveness. Germany’s position as a center of industry is under existential threat.”

Other than that though, the current German government is doing a great job.

All the news that’s fit to print…

May 8, 2026 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: , , , Leave a comment

And any flavor you want, simultaneously.

Germany is toast! Germany doing better! Whatever.

German ‌industrial production ‌fell unexpectedly ​in March, decreasing by 0.7% ‌from ⁠the previous month, ⁠the federal ​statistics ​office ​said on ‌Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted ‌a ​0.5% ​rise.

Deeper ties to China?

May 3, 2026 By in Heconomy, Habitudes, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hard Facts, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Smart move, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein).

Reminds me of those deeper ties to Russia right before the war in Ukraine broke out.

German state eyes deeper China cooperation in energy, innovation – Significant potential exists to deepen cooperation between the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein and east China’s Zhejiang Province, particularly in energy transition, hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, according to Daniel Guenther, minister president of Schleswig-Holstein.

His remarks come as the two regions mark 40 years of partnership, with both sides seeking to expand ties despite an increasingly complex geopolitical and trade environment.

We can’t afford this anymore

April 15, 2026 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

We couldn’t in the past either, of course…

But now we really can’t afford this anymore.

German health minister announces billions in cutbacks – The comprehensive reform package aims to plug a multi-billion-euro hole in Germany’s expensive healthcare system. The reforms include mandatory second opinions for costly surgeries and no more homeopathy.