Germany has a very strong economy which makes them the most successful compared to any other country and the main contributing factor for this success is the German Mittelstand. The German Mittelstand consists of small to medium sized businesses which are mainly run by families with up to 500 employees (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, n.d.). Although many large companies can come under the category of a Mittelstand, as they adopt the same attitudes and follow the same principals, which means majority of German businesses are featured as a Mittelstand and they strive on this to keep their economy strong (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, n.d.). Due to most Mittelstand companies being run by families they take full ownership …show more content…
But the question remains how did this happen it was not due to economic growth, it was due to the German Mittelstand they were able to increase employment for the youth and fight of the effects of the financial crisis (The Economist, 2013). In support of this Bremer (2012), claims that German Mittelstand are able to provide well paid jobs even when a crisis arises they boost employment, whereas usually when a crisis occurs many bigger companies make job cuts but Mittelstand companies did not need to, their role is important for the success of Germany. Keeping youth unemployment down is another role the Mittelstand plays, they provide excellent vocational education, firms such as Storopack or Rosh offer apprenticeships so young people are able to receive training to become highly skilled workers (The Economist, 2013). This allows young people to gain better quality jobs and have an advantage in gaining a job straight after their school education due to all the experience and training they receive (Anderson, 2012), which is difficult for the youth to achieve especially within the UK where unemployment for the youth is
The economic miracle was the high economic growth experienced by the FRG as a result of the Marshall plan and the financial reforms introduced by the finance minister, Ludwig Erhard. The financial reforms included implementing the currency reform in the Western Zones, lifting most restrictions on control prices in the market and reducing taxation. In the agriculture sector, although farmers continued to receive heavy subsidies, the structure of the economy was changed and as a consequence the proportion of the workforce employed in farming was nearly halved. This meant the economic miracle of the FRG wasn’t a total success because many people who previously had a job in the agricultural sector may find it harder to get a job elsewhere because they may have found it hard to transfer the necessary skills. However, it could still be argued that the agricultural sector was a success because although unemployment in the sector increased, the rationalisation by more mechanisation still brought about a substantial increase in production-nearly 25 per cent in the 10 years of the 1950s. Nevertheless, the agricultural sector wasn’t a total success because of the increase in unemployment in the sector. Another reason why the economic miracle wasn’t a total success was because Erhard’s implementation of the social market economy in 1948-9 did not immediately cause economic take off. The steep rise of prices which occurred was not matched by the rate of wage increases. This meant that the economic miracle wasn’t a total success because there was hardship for the poorer people in society as a result of prices rising at a faster rate than wages. Furthermore, the shortages of many resources, especially coal, led to a sharp increase in imports and a serious balance of payments deficit. This meant that the economic miracle wasn’t a total success because the German economy faced recession in 1949-50 because there was
A historic look back at Germany shows that after its fall in World War II, it needed a massive rebuilding in order regain its status that it once held. Various events took place that helped it re-climb the pedestal ladder. The year 1948 brought a currency reform that was the turning point for economic reform. There was a continuous economic growth each year for Western Germany, but the strict, conservative ways of East Germany’s communist rule still slowed true growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To make matters worse, the whole country experienced a significant drop in its GDP, causing a recession from 1976 through to 1985. There was a growth again for the next eight years before a major down ward spiral began in 1992. Germany’s early ‘90s spiral was attributed to the reunification of the country between 1989 and 1990. Once the two countries formed their one republic, the economy took its major tumble. Economists have figured this to be true because West Germany continued to evolve with industrial and technological breakthroughs and standards, while the communist East Germany adhered to traditional, unproductive ways that in some cases dated back to the 1940s and World War II times. So instead of combining to form an economic powerhouse, the GDP tumbled and caused a massive surge to restructure and work began to regain the decades of reform that were no longer noticeable.
A strong year in 2000 was followed by an average of .6% growth rate from 2001-2005. Germany was affected by the world’s economic status, which caused a drop in German exports. Since exports are one of the largest contributors to Germany’s GDP, it caused the their economy to slow. In addition to the world’s economic status, they were also affected by the “appreciating euro and sagging domestic investment” (Marketline).
Following the Second World War, Germany was rebuilt out of practically nothing into one of the richest countries of the world. This well-known transformation is known as the "Wirtschaftswunder" (wonder of economics). Yet in the recent reunification of West and East Germany, German leadership has ignored crucial lessons from this successful period of transformation. Three problems highlight this claim:
In 1929, Germany was in a very poor state economically. The stock market crash and depression in the United States had spread world wide, and Germany felt a large portion of the blow. The debts from World War I had begun the economic crisis, but the depression only added to the problem. At that point in time, Germany was plagued with high inflation, and the value of the German mar was on the decline. Bread lines formed because of the food shortage leaving many people to go hungry.
The first and most likely the greatest reason people stayed and thrived in the German Empire was because of its rapid industrialization. Trailing the rest of the world in industry and technology it was not until the mid-1800s that Germany finally started to industrialize, but it was not until the creation German Empire that there was full-fledged industrialization (SJSU). Part of the reason that allowed Germany to in...
Regarding architecture of the era of Industrial Revolution, John Ruskin, a co-founder of the Arts and Crafts movement towards simplicity argued, ‘’ you should not connect the delight which you take in ornament with that which you take in construction or in usefulness. They have no connection, and every effort that you make to reason from one to the other will blunt your sense of beauty... Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; Peacocks and lilies for instance.’’
As of recent years, roughly 2012 and onward, drop shadows, bevels, and other dimension-implied design techniques have been exchanged for flat, smooth, simplistic styles. Companies at the top of the advertising market have made the switch, including Netflix, Google, eBay, Yahoo, Hershey’s, and so on (Cass). Take the Pepsi logo for example; it practically proves that history repeats itself. It’s clear that in 1898 the design was much more complex and ornamental, over time dropping the details until 1940. Then, in 1950, Pepsi adopted the complexity of a storytelling logo, incorporating the pop cap as somewhat of product description, and on with the embellishing and then simplifying pattern (“Pepsi”). The US National Soccer Team, in addition to Chevrolet and other companies, has followed a similar pattern in not only logo development, but stylistic graphic decisions as well. More so, minimalism is a trend that falls into the timeless category, and Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity,” noting its first known use in 1927, and popularity growth in the 1950s (as evident in the Pepsi design timeline). This solidifies the statement that simplistic design is not timeless, rather the opposite, it showcases the era that it was designed for. Could one not argue, based on Pepsi’s logo in 2003, that flat designs were likely obsolete at that time as well? Design obsoletism works both ways, because it’s a trend, and minimalism, otherwise referred to as simplicity or timelessness, most definitely
Until the second half of the nineteenth century Germany wasn’t the country we identify it to be nowadays, it was made up by a handful of states, each with different laws, currencies and trade barriers. The moment the Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck was in charge of policies, things started to change, he essentially created Germany. In 1948, unification started, and each state became part of a whole, with the same laws and currency, and most importantly, trade barriers were abolished. Consequently, trade between the states grew radically and boosted technological industrial growth. The government encouraged growth through adapted policies, in addition, German banks were created and were able to supply credit and investments to somehow stimulate the appearance of new businesses. Furthermore, as a consequence of the railway construction, coal extraction and iron manufacture reached their highest points in the nineteenth century. However Bismarck’s main aim was to protect the new Germany from wars with Russia and France, and the way he chose to achieve his goal was by engaging in a foreign policy manipulating game with the European powers: he tried to maintain good relations with Hungary and Russia and isolate France.
Deutsche Brauerei has been a family owned and operated corporation for 12 generations, which has created a high level of focus and control. Each generation has kept the management and operations processes relatively simple, centered on brewing practices and quality. Deutsche Brauerei’s rapid growth in recent years can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, the company’s success is centered on the product itself, which has won numerous quality awards and is quite popular in Germany. Another contributing factor to the recent growth may have been a bit inadvertent. The purchase of new equipment in 1994, which was necessary as a result of a fire that destroyed the old equipment, allowed the company to increase brewing capacity and efficiency. Finally, Deutsche Brauerei’s decision to enter the Ukranian market in 1998 contributed significantly to the rapid growth. The collapse of the U.S.S.R. brought market reforms, and Deutsche Brauerei jumped on the opportunity to enter the fragmented beer industry, capture the large population and capitalize on the prime location in Europe. Lukas Schweitzer was savvy enough to hire local expert Oleg Pinchuk away from a competitor as the marketing manager, and Oleg was instrumental in building the business in Ukraine by securing accounts and implementing the field warehousing to support distributors. Deutsche’s beer was hugely popular in the Ukraine almost immediately, and volume sales more than offset the depreciation of the Ukrainian currency. Sales in Ukraine accounted for 28% of Deutsche’s total sales, and skyrocketed from 4,262 euros in 1998 to 25,847 euros in 2001.
Minimalism was a logical development of trends that started at the beginning of the 20th century - more notably, in architecture with the Bauhaus and Mies Van Der Rohe’s philosophy of “Less is More”. There was a new way of looking at things, challenging old ideas of form and style. This philosophy was absorbed in the art stream, which was freed of its classical linkages and where Minimalism grew to be influential across several genres.
One of the key ideas of the modern era was to forge the designs of the future on the corpses of the past, disregarding everything from the last era and moving forward with new ideals and styles. Refining and discarding they shaped, molded and constricted the ideas of design until reaching the pinnacle of minimalism. Creating design with pure aesthetics and reducing an object down to its core fundamental elements. Using the ideas of “less is more” or even “using less for more”, the designs ended up simple and elegant with a focus not in quantit...
Analysis of the labor market in the economy reveals a reduction in vacancies while the number of job seekers significantly increases over the past few decades (Dickerson, 2008, p.1). Particularly, the youth employment looks worrying with a serious downward trend with so many of them unemployed. The numbers of free people who are full educated or trained have also decreased. The unemployed in the economy are either inactive or unemployed. The annual changes continue to show a rise in unemployment of young people both for student and others. With lack of government employment as well as training programs, many individuals opt to seek for self-employment (Dickerson, 2008, p.1). Statistic continues to show that there has been an increase of workless people in comparison to the vacancies available. The general picture, therefore, remains that labor market constantly fails to meet the needs of people regarding employment. Although this is the case, there has been some variation across regions with Scotland and Wales in the UK showing decreased performance. There remains a risk that employment will increase in the coming years. The present concern is long-term unemployment, specifically with regards to the youths who are most disadvantaged in the labor market (Dickerson, 2008, p.1).
The establishment of the German modern era began at the turn of the 20th century. Eksteins verifies this conviction by stating that Germany made tremendous industrial improvements, during this time. Among these industrial improvements was the introduction of a massive steel industry. Although Germany produced steel prior to 1900, it had never competed with the other European powers. “By 1914,
When it comes to designers and their work, within the aesthetic theory they usually perceive themselves as originators and will forever avoid being a follower. On a critical writing essay by Chuck Byrne and Martha Witte about understanding deconstruction they state, “most are loath to admit that they are influenced by much of anything other than their own inner creative resources.” (Bierut, Drenttel, Heller, Holland 1995: p115) Designers today and experimentation, what advantages do they have now that they couldn’t before? Chuck Bryne and Martha Witte also state “Today, the technological changes taking place in typography have been brought about by the personal computer. Relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use desktop publishing equipment and software have given those designers choosing to take advantage of them direct control over typographic arrangements which were previously dependent upon expensive typesetting techniques or laborious handwork. The ability of the computer to allow variations at low cost gives the designer the freedom to experiment until the page seems “right”, whereas previously, tried-and-true formulas were necessary in orde...