Why is Germany unique in Europe? What are the reasons for Germany's sustained economic development?

The subprime mortgage crisis exposed the defects of the free competition system of Anglo-American Anglo-Saxon economic model. The debt crisis in southern Europe this year has exposed the disadvantages of the high welfare system. Germany, on the other hand, is unique, showing obvious advantages such as social stability, strong exports and sufficient financial resources. The reason is that Germany's continuous social and economic reforms have contributed.

More than a decade ago, Germany was still a "seriously ill" country. Influenced by the long-standing high welfare system and the sequelae of the reunification of Germany and Germany, in the 1990s, low economic growth, high unemployment rate and high welfare led to high costs for German enterprises, and a large number of manufacturing enterprises moved out of Germany, which also brought great pressure on government finances. Today, these problems still exist in many "old Europe" countries. Today, despite the global economic crisis, the unemployment rate in Germany is still relatively low in Europe, even lower than five years ago. Germany has maintained its position as the world's largest exporter for many years. Even if this position is now replaced by China, it is still a big exporter of developed countries. Today, Germany is a well-deserved geographical center, economic center and political center in Europe. The "patient" more than a decade ago has become the engine and mainstay of the current European economy.

The transformation of Germany in the past ten years is mainly attributed to the lasting reform of the German government, among which the former Chancellor Schroeder, who came to power in 1998, contributed a lot. His "Agenda 20 10" reform plan covers almost all aspects of society. The main measures include: increasing the income of individuals and enterprises by reducing the tax rate, stimulating consumption and investment; Reform the unemployment insurance and relief system, reduce unemployment benefits year by year and strengthen re-employment training; Postpone or even temporarily freeze the increase of pensions for retirees and so on. Schroeder's government also increased investment in education and scientific research to further improve labor productivity.

In the grand coalition government after 2005, Merkel formed a new government. Merkel adheres to the reform idea of "20 10 Agenda", and constantly introduces new policies to reduce the burden on enterprises and immigration policies, taking into account social endurance, promoting reforms when conditions are ripe, and postponing reforms when the situation is forced.

For example, in the labor market, two German governments are committed to reforming high welfare, reducing unemployment rate, improving labor efficiency and ensuring fairness between workers and employers. They all regard promoting employment as the core goal of their policies, and promoting economic growth is only one of the means to increase employment. Schroeder vigorously reformed the labor market and welfare system. The core of this policy is to reduce unemployment protection and provide training and support for those who are willing to find jobs. The Merkel government continues to promote new forms of jobs and benefits, such as "mini-jobs" and temporary workers. Between 2005 and 2008, the number of unemployed people in Germany dropped from 5 million to 3 million again.

Germany's social and economic system reform has achieved remarkable results, which is the fundamental reason why Germany can be immune to the frequent crises in many European countries. If southern European countries want to get rid of the debt crisis fundamentally, they can't solve the problem by relying on external assistance. The road taken by Germany in the past ten years can provide a good reference for these countries.