German Elections -- Results

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
But didnt that mean existing wages at the time were effectively converted to unrealistic levels?

Yes, - although "normal" eastern wages in 89 were already much lower than those in the west.

How does nationwide collective bargaining impact relative wage levels - can a company establish different wage levels in the east than in the West, or do the labor agreements prevent that?

Today we have still lower wages in the east. Unions try to get the same wages everywhere in their industry/field, but while most people would simply like to have that (who wouldn't like more money) they also often realize that having lower wages is an advantage for attracting investments. At least in some eastern areas the lower wages have led to a successful revival of industries or at least companies which seemed to have no chance there during the 90ies. That is something which needs to continue. With unemployment so high unions now are often more willing to make concessions towards the employers, so they sometimes drop the "same wages" idea for getting new jobs.

[Bereta_Eder]

so whats gonna happen now?
who will coalisize with who

[BeBMan]

At the moment nobody knows, there are just speculations flying around.

[Bereta_Eder]

what happens if there is no coalition reached?
second elections?

[BeBMan]

Hm, I don't think we get another round of elections, I don't see how this would lead neccessarily to a more clear result. Negotiations now can take some time, and it is impossible to predict the outcome....maybe later when the "fog of war" begins to dissappear....

[Bereta_Eder]

that blondie though, she really screwed it up eh?

and those declarations by her "finance minister"

schroeder 3 wives and 7 lives

[Odin]

Dan shows off his market fundamentalism again. To the Right a high growth rate has become an end unto itself. That fast growth ain't workth sh*t if it only makes the rich richer while the average Joe gets screwed.

[Odin]

I heard on NPR a while ago that Mrs. Merkel copied Reagan's "are you better off than you were 4 years ago" quote.

[DanS]

My approach is non-ideological.

[Odin]

Originally posted by DanS
My approach is non-ideological.

Modern Economics has been thouroughly infected in right-wing ideology ever since Friedmannism took over.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DanS
My approach is non-ideological.

Like hell it ain't.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Odin


Modern Economics has been thouroughly infected in right-wing ideology ever since Friedmannism took over.

Friedman never "took over" - there have been plenty of non-monetarists during and since his period of greatest influence. Freidmans influence beyond money and banking is rather limited, IIRC.

[siron]

When you want some background info about the german economy there is a good ECONOMIST article.
I agree in most parts with HW Sinn (ifo munich) (and his proposals he has published in several books recently). (Actually the Economist supported Merkel but the analysis is really fair.)

It is unbelievable that our german media is unable to produce such kind of analysis.

Really, our government used it for their campaign. Everything in german media was just schroeder bashing.

http://www.bundesregierung.de/Anlage875600/Germany%27s+surprising+economy.pdf

http://www.bundesregierung.de/Anlage875595/Ready+to+motor+%28englische+Originalversion%2c+Teil+1%29.pdf

http://www.bundesregierung.de/Anlage875596/Ready+to+motor+%28englische+Originalversion%2c+Teil+2%29.pdf

http://www.bundesregierung.de/Anlage875597/Ready+to+motor+%28englische+Originalversion%2c+Teil+3%29.pdf

[Atahualpa]

Interesting analysis and the first one that paints a more positive picture

[Boris Godunov]

Dilly of a pickle. It doesn't look like there's any way a coalition can be formed, given the breakdown of the votes and what the parties have ruled out in terms of partners.

My understanding is that if they are unsuccessful in forming a government, then the President gets to appoint a minority government. I'm guessing he'd appoint Schroeder's Social Dems, yes?