Comments on: Snapshots of certain fragilities in the German economy http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:23:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158710 Brian Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:50:03 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158710 I should point out that the statement in the post that Canadian parts maker (should read Canadian-Austrian parts maker) is buying Opel is misleading. The AFR today tells us that Magna will only have 20%. GM and Sherbank, majority-owned by the Russian government, are each taking a 35% share, the remaining 10% going to Opel workers. Now Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has come out against the deal. Now <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,627918,00.html" rel="nofollow">according to Der Spiegel</a> German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is also the Social Democrats (SPD) candidate to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel for her job, has demanded that ailing department store chain Karstadt be saved. Seems there is an election in four months time. I should point out that the statement in the post that Canadian parts maker (should read Canadian-Austrian parts maker) is buying Opel is misleading. The AFR today tells us that Magna will only have 20%. GM and Sherbank, majority-owned by the Russian government, are each taking a 35% share, the remaining 10% going to Opel workers. Now Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has come out against the deal.

Now according to Der Spiegel German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is also the Social Democrats (SPD) candidate to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel for her job, has demanded that ailing department store chain Karstadt be saved.

Seems there is an election in four months time.

]]> By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158709 Brian Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:46:07 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158709 No probs, Evan. With my natural modesty I just didn't want to big note myself! No probs, Evan. With my natural modesty I just didn’t want to big note myself!

]]> By: Evan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158708 Evan Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:39:32 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158708 Ahem, Brian...colour me embarrassed. Ahem, Brian…colour me embarrassed.

]]> By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158707 Brian Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:54:07 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158707 aidan, there is another little story. In the Heidelberg University Library, halfway up the stairs, there was yet another marble bust of some dead bald geezer who looked as though he needed a hat. So I put my hat on his head and posed next to him for a photo. Unfortunately at that point the battery on our camera expired. I almost decided there and then that we would have to come back! aidan, there is another little story. In the Heidelberg University Library, halfway up the stairs, there was yet another marble bust of some dead bald geezer who looked as though he needed a hat. So I put my hat on his head and posed next to him for a photo. Unfortunately at that point the battery on our camera expired. I almost decided there and then that we would have to come back!

]]> By: aidan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158706 aidan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:32:43 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158706 In defense of the roo-hat (Disclaimer: I don't personally own one) .. my uncle is a brick-layer in the Shakey Isles and he swears by the roo hat for work-related activity. Had me buy him another as he was worried his first might be misplaced and he couldn't bear to be without one. Wear it with pride Brian! In defense of the roo-hat (Disclaimer: I don’t personally own one) .. my uncle is a brick-layer in the Shakey Isles and he swears by the roo hat for work-related activity. Had me buy him another as he was worried his first might be misplaced and he couldn’t bear to be without one. Wear it with pride Brian!

]]> By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158705 Brian Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:45:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158705 <blockquote>As for the bloke with the Kangaroo hat, did you check-out his tobacco pouch by any chance?</blockquote> I didn't have to, Evan, because 'twas yours truly. I grabbed it literally on the way out as we left, as we were meeting up with people in Germany we'd spent a lot of time with growing up but hadn't seen for 50 years. So at Munich airport it came in handy. Also I have a bald pate and I found it kept me a bit warm. Finally, I figured if I got lost my rellies would be able to find me. I didn't, but my elder brother nearly did when he tacked onto the back of the wrong tour group coming out of the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz. I did see another one in Vancouver airport on the way home. BilB, I'd have to agree. I've just heard from my sister in Toronto who has commanded me to do more, so I've got my marching orders.

As for the bloke with the Kangaroo hat, did you check-out his tobacco pouch by any chance?

I didn’t have to, Evan, because ’twas yours truly. I grabbed it literally on the way out as we left, as we were meeting up with people in Germany we’d spent a lot of time with growing up but hadn’t seen for 50 years. So at Munich airport it came in handy.

Also I have a bald pate and I found it kept me a bit warm. Finally, I figured if I got lost my rellies would be able to find me. I didn’t, but my elder brother nearly did when he tacked onto the back of the wrong tour group coming out of the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.

I did see another one in Vancouver airport on the way home.

BilB, I’d have to agree.

I’ve just heard from my sister in Toronto who has commanded me to do more, so I’ve got my marching orders.

]]> By: BilB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158704 BilB Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:56:52 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158704 If we are talking about subsidising industry, todays story (well yesterday really) came in a conversation (a good source but still needs verification). Fletchers have moved a Formica factory from NZ to Queensland. When challenged the answer was that in Queensland the off peak lowest rate power is to cost them 1.2 Aus cents per kilowatt hour. If that is not subsidising then I don't know what is. Apparently retail power for the small user is around NZ 25 cents per kilowatt hour (requires verification). If a business needs to have electricity for free to be competitive then they should give up and do something else. If we are talking about subsidising industry, todays story (well yesterday really) came in a conversation (a good source but still needs verification). Fletchers have moved a Formica factory from NZ to Queensland. When challenged the answer was that in Queensland the off peak lowest rate power is to cost them 1.2 Aus cents per kilowatt hour. If that is not subsidising then I don’t know what is. Apparently retail power for the small user is around NZ 25 cents per kilowatt hour (requires verification).

If a business needs to have electricity for free to be competitive then they should give up and do something else.

]]> By: Evan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158703 Evan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:28:52 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158703 Nice photos. Re the German economy, as long as they're only subsidising cuckoo clocks and not IG Farben, I'll be a happy dude. As for the bloke with the Kangaroo hat, did you check-out his tobacco pouch by any chance? Some years ago kangaroo-scrotum tobacco pouches were something of a fashion accessory for the well-appointed swish out beyond the Barcoo. Tasteless, but true. And if he's daft-enough to go the hat, the pouch can't be far behind. Nice photos.

Re the German economy, as long as they’re only subsidising cuckoo clocks and not IG Farben, I’ll be a happy dude.

As for the bloke with the Kangaroo hat, did you check-out his tobacco pouch by any chance?

Some years ago kangaroo-scrotum tobacco pouches were something of a fashion accessory for the well-appointed swish out beyond the Barcoo. Tasteless, but true. And if he’s daft-enough to go the hat, the pouch can’t be far behind.

]]> By: Brian http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158702 Brian Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:06:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158702 Make sure you click on the slide show on that link [ie. @ 12]. We weren't allowed to take photos. Make sure you click on the slide show on that link [ie. @ 12]. We weren’t allowed to take photos.

]]> By: aidan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158701 aidan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:00:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2009/05/31/snapshots-of-certain-fragilities-in-the-german-economy/#comment-158701 Brian wrote: <blockquote><i>But against that I’d like to know how much of their exporting is to other EC countries. If you threw a circle around a particular 80 million sized bit of the US and counted exports to other parts of the US you might find a new story.</i></blockquote> Yes you're probably correct as the proportion of trade within the EU has increased as a result of falling trade barriers. Paul Krugman is <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2008/krugman-lecture.html" rel="nofollow">worth a look on this topic</a>. Brian wrote:

But against that I’d like to know how much of their exporting is to other EC countries. If you threw a circle around a particular 80 million sized bit of the US and counted exports to other parts of the US you might find a new story.

Yes you’re probably correct as the proportion of trade within the EU has increased as a result of falling trade barriers. Paul Krugman is worth a look on this topic.

]]>