Not in My Backyard: Communal Challenges to the Energiewende
In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in 2011, pollsters consistently found that a majority of Germans supported the closing of Germany’s remaining nuclear power plants. The anti-atomic sentiment culminated …
Credit Ratings for Seven German Banks Downgraded
On Wednesday, the international agency Moody’s downgraded the credit rating for seven German financial institutions. Commerzbank AG, Germany’s second largest bank, stands among the downgraded financial institutions. Some experts contend …
Rajoy’s Cautionary Tale
More than anybody else Spanish Prime minister Mariano Rajoy embodies what many euro zone members nation’ leaders are going through. Caught in a purgatory, suspended between the proud defense of national sovereignty, the need for Euro zone financial solidarity and the powerful drift towards closer political integration, he is struggling to find the right balance and avoid catastrophe. After months full of missteps, even the proud Spaniard seems to have finally realized that there will be no safety for his country without further transfers of power towards Brussels.
A Volkswagen “Pivot” toward China?
In 2011, Volkswagen AG (VW) delivered 2.3 million cars in China, accounting for 27 percent of its total sales by volume. The importance of the Chinese market to VW, coupled …
Energy Security Risk Assessment: A Transatlantic Comparison
Despite facing similar challenges, the United States and Germany continually diverge in their creation of energy policy. Mr. Aki Kachi argues that Germany pursues risk-averse energy policy, citing the nation’s …
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Support Our WorkVolkswagen Outpaces Economic Forecasts While Southern European Car Sales Dwindle
This week, Volkswagen (VW) announced wage increases for over 100,000 workers in six of its plants in western Germany. Representatives of IG Metall and upper management of VW reached this …
Overcoming the Euro Crisis
The euro crisis has come to a preliminary halt following the two massive liquidity injections by the European Central Bank (ECB) in December 2011 and February 2012. However, these ECB …
Redemption Fund or Eurobonds?
Judging from what the media have made of the latest gathering of European leaders in Brussels, it came close to a disaster. No decision about Eurobonds or growth was taken. …
Cameron Phones the Mainland
He has done it again. British Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly voiced his deep concerns about the euro zone. London now openly fears a breakup of the common currency …
A Discussion with Lothar Binding, Member of the SPD
AGI Senior Fellow Alexander Privitera sits down with Lothar Binding, member of the Bundestag’s Finance Committee for the SPD, to discuss the current state of the euro zone crisis and …
The Need to Think Bigger
Recent events in Europe, especially Spain, have once again ignited numerous debates about the potential breakup of the euro zone. In a recent op-ed in the Washington Post, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle laid out and defended what he felt was needed to fix Europe. However, according to Executive Director Jack Janes and Senior Fellow Alexander Privitera, Mr. Westerwelle’s plan does not go far enough.
From Paris to Athens and Back to Madrid: The Return of Crisis Management
Once again the uncertainty surrounding Greece has plunged Europe into crisis mode. The euro zone is fighting on three fronts: it is trying to keep Greece on course, save Spain from its banks, and define a middle-term strategy for growth. The crisis really is back with a vengeance.
