The financial crisis through a German perspective- presented in Youth Time Forum, October 2011, Rhodes, Greece

1. YT
Dialogue of
civilization!
WPF – Youth Time
The financial crisis in Europe: What I learn from it!
WPF – Youth Time
The financial crisis
Moritz von Bonin
Rhodes, 11. October 2011
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2. How Germany developed its economy since 1945 YT
Dialogue of
civilization!
A brief historical review
1948 - 1952 − A 13 Billion $ (today’s worth 75 Billion EUR) support of the West European
economies by the United States
− Act of humanity, combat the spread of communism and create a market for
Marshall Plan US products
− Impact on Germany: 1,3 Billion $ and the first step of European integration
− Until now Germany spend 1,4 Trillion EUR to reconstruct eastern Germany
1990 − Financing of the reunification: Tax increase and additional national debts
− Impact until now: 30 Billion EUR on top interest payment p.a.
Reunification − Result of the east: Top class schools and universities; innovative industry
− Successful strong industrial brands (BMW, Siemens …)
2010 − High quality of green industry (wind, solar, …)
− Industrial back bone with strong small and medium-sized businesses
Financial Crisis − Low unemployment rates and discipline of state finance
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3. Why Germany seems to be in a position of comfort YT
Dialogue of
civilization!
Assumption of success
− The experience that you have to react flexible in a fast changing world
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− The perspective to “focus on top quality and never rest, always try to become
better”
Change − Invest in education and research
− Support of innovation and creation of an environment of free thinking
− Development of the brand “Made in Germany
Made Germany”
2
− Free trading within the EU
− Find the way into new markets (e.g. China, Brazil)
Market − Understand and react faster then others on long term trends
− Policy of unity and not of dividing (e.g. in the EU)
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− Joint interests and friendship with all former enemies (e.g. Russia, France)
− Benefit: No need for boarder protection, low military spending (1.4%* of GDP
Peace Germany, 4.7%* USA, 4.0%* in Greece)
* World Bank; Year 2009
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4. The fundament of a successful future will be YT
“The dialogue of civilization!” Dialogue of
civilization!
Key assumptions of future success
1 Development [trends] Exchange [civilization] 2
− Megatrends and how they influence societies − Learn about other perspectives
and change values of people − Understand other cultures
− Forecasting the future and understand the history − Reflect my own point of view
Future
Examples: Examples:
China Easternization YT Altai
Water
Internet usage
Water needs
YT
Dialogue of
3 Discussion [current events] Networking [dialogue] 4
civilization!
− Analyze incidents that have global − Create a Network of people that are:
impact Open minded, willed to look across the own
− Discuss root cause, development and effect boarders and share a fundament of values
Examples: Examples:
Financial crisis in Europe YT Altai
Arabic Revolution Facebook
Meet and visit each other
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