The Political Transition in Germany: Economic Challenges

Join us as we discuss with Professor Gabriel Felbermayr, President of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the forces reshaping the intricate web of global value chains. Geopolitical tensions, mounting tarrifs and regulatory crackdowns put pressure on global economic exchange and Gabriel shares his expert insights on what the future holds and what it means for businesses and economies worldwide.

In this episode, Dirk Schumacher sits down with Hadrien Camatte from Natixis to dive deep into the fallout of the Barnier government’s collapse. - Can President Macron cobble together a new government? - What were Marine Le Pen’s motivations for toppling Barnier, and what does it mean for France’s political future? - As parliamentary elections loom in mid-2025, will the country see a stable majority—or more uncertainty? - How would a provisional 2025 budget shape France’s fiscal path and consolidation efforts? - Will political instability rattle rating agencies—and could that impact bond yields?

Dive into the turbulent world of German politics as we unpack the dramatic collapse of the ruling coalition and what lies ahead in the upcoming elections. While disagreements over economic policies led to the coalition's downfall, the challenges remain unchanged: high corporate taxes, surging labor costs, and stifling bureaucratic inefficiencies. What will it take for Germany's next government to reignite growth and tackle these pressing issues? Join us to find out.

In this episode, we explore the inflation outlook for the Euro Area, honing in on whether medium-term inflation could once again fall short of the ECB's target, as it did before the pandemic. While there’s little evidence in current data to suggest an imminent undershoot—thanks to robust wage growth, persistent service price inflation, and ample room for monetary policy easing—some of these factors may ease in the coming year. This makes it crucial to keep a close eye on potential risks of undershooting.

Join us this week as we tackle a pressing issue facing the Euro Area: fiscal consolidation. With debt-to-GDP ratios near historic highs in many economies, reducing deficits is critical—but not without risks to economic growth. Our special guest, Roel Beetsma, Professor of Macroeconomics at the University of Amsterdam, offers his insights on questions like: Is there a way to cut deficits without hurting growth? How does population aging impact public budgets and political pressures? What new strains are digitalization and the green transition placing on Europe’s fiscal future? And have we reached a breaking point in Europe’s fiscal stability culture? Tune in for an in-depth discussion on these challenges and the difficult choices European policymakers are grappling with.

Join us to dive into the challenges and transitions facing Europe’s car industry. Together with Valentin Mory, mobility expert from Natixis, we explore the shifting landscape of electric vehicles (EVs), China's lead in battery technology, and the future of internal combustion engines. Will Europe keep pace with China’s rapid electrification? Can car manufacturers overcome regulatory hurdles and avoid costly fines? And what’s the real impact of upcoming tariffs on Chinese car imports? Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the evolving auto industry, the latest on EV penetration rates, and what’s driving change across the globe.

Have you ever wondered why Europe's economic growth seems stuck in slow motion? Join us as we explore the mystery of Europe's lagging economic growth. We break down the complex factors at play from sluggish investment to slow productivity growth, discuss the struggle to keep pace with the US tech boom, and Europe's shortcomings in fostering innovation, particularly in the Information and Communication Technology sector. Tune in as we dissect the numbers and analyze the policy challenges ahead for Europe.

Join Dirk Schumacher and Klaus Adam on "The Week That Was in Europe" as they welcome Professor Andrei Levchenko, a leading expert on international trade, to discuss new insights into the gains from international trade, the benefits & drawbacks of tariffs + export subsidies, and international technology transfer. Tune in to "The Week That Was in Europe" for an insightful discussion on the ever-evolving landscape of international trade, featuring expert analysis and real-world examples.

We provide our perspective on the ECB’s policy meeting: markets expected the ECB's rate cut, the real focus was on the path for interest rates going forward.

In this week's episode of The Week That Was in Europe, hosts Dirk Schumacher and Klaus Adam return from their summer break to analyze Germany's economic underperformance. Why has Europe’s largest economy stagnated post-pandemic, while its neighbors surge ahead? From sluggish consumer spending to declining investments and rising energy costs, they explore the driving factors behind Germany’s struggles. They also discuss the "second China shock," the challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles, and the looming risks of de-industrialization. Tune in to understand the forces shaping Germany's economic future.