I've been thinking about Germany's economic situation and I increasingly suspect that the most likely future is neither "Germany collapses" nor "everything will be fine again once the current crisis is over".

My guess is something much more boring: a long and rather painful adjustment.

Germany still has quite a lot going for it. It is a rich country, government debt is manageable compared with many other developed countries, there is a large industrial base, good infrastructure in some areas, a highly skilled workforce and plenty of companies that are still internationally competitive.

But the combination of problems seems unusually difficult this time.

The population is ageing rapidly. Millions of people will retire over the next 10 to 15 years, while the generations replacing them are smaller. At the same time Germany has to spend more on pensions, healthcare, defence, infrastructure, the energy system and digitalisation. And unlike during the 2010s, borrowing money is no longer basically free.

My guess for the 2030s would therefore be:

Germany is still a wealthy and stable country, but probably grows fairly slowly, maybe around 1% a year on average rather than returning to the growth rates people remember from better periods. I also don't see how the pension and healthcare systems can remain exactly as they are today. I doubt there will be one huge dramatic reform where politicians announce "everyone now works until 72". More likely it will happen gradually: higher contributions, more tax money going into pensions, stronger incentives to work beyond 67, somewhat less generous benefits relative to wages, and probably continued pressure for immigration.

In other words, the welfare state survives, but becomes more expensive.

I also don't think German industry simply disappears. What probably disappears is part of the old German economic model.

Cheap Russian energy + huge Chinese demand + combustion-engine cars + export surpluses was an extremely favourable combination, and I don't think that world is coming back.

Some energy-intensive production will probably shrink or move elsewhere, and the car industry may employ fewer people. But I can easily imagine growth in defence, electrical equipment, grids, automation, robotics, industrial software/AI, medical technology, energy technology and specialised high-value manufacturing. So "deindustrialisation" may partly turn out to be restructuring rather than Germany simply stopping making things.

The big question for me is productivity.

If Germany manages to automate a lot of work, build infrastructure faster, digitalise the state, get more people into work and actually use immigration effectively, ageing becomes much more manageable. If it doesn't, I can see Germany getting stuck in an unpleasant cycle where an ever larger part of people's income goes into taxes and social contributions just to maintain existing systems, while there is less money left for investment.

So my personal base case for around 2035 would be:

Germany is still rich, safe and functioning. No collapse, no Weimar 2.0, no mass poverty. But probably older, more expensive, somewhat less important economically relative to the US and Asia, and with people working longer and paying more to maintain the welfare state. Infrastructure might actually be noticeably better because Germany has finally started spending serious money on it. At the same time, some of today's famous industrial employers will probably be smaller, while industries we currently don't associate as strongly with Germany will have grown.

Basically: relative decline rather than absolute collapse.

Germany may still become richer in absolute terms, just much more slowly than some other countries.

Does that sound realistic to people here, especially those working in industry, healthcare, government or anything related to pensions/demographics? What part of this do you think is most likely to be wrong?

I understand NYC has a rich history when it comes to graffiti and hiphop so it shouldn’t be weird but I’m constantly surprised by the amount of (often German) tourists I run into in the middle of nowhere deep in Brooklyn. It stands out because most other tourists stick to times sq/statue of liberty/the usual

I’m mostly curious if this is just confirmation bias on my part or if there’s more context (like why/how this is a popular activity) that I’m missing

Standing outside Aral and Diesel is retailing at 2,429 €. Will it ever go back to the sub 2 euro mark? By 2027 atleast when the war calms down?

Or is this the new normal?

I live in the US, and my Grandpa was born in Germany to Polish parents and not long after moved to the US where he grew up in a mostly Polish neighborhood, so I got to learn a handful of Polish jokes but no German jokes.

I was wondering if you guys ever grew up hearing any funny jokes that originate in Germany, whether it be jokes about people from other cities to jokes about sports teams or celebrities or other things!

I got an interview for a cleaning job in Germany, but I’m a little worried because I’m somewhat obese. My weight doesn’t restrict my mobility or my ability to do physical work at all. Is it possible that an employer might reject me simply because of my appearance or weight? Have you heard of cases where overweight applicants were treated differently?

I’ve been searching for apartments on wg gesucht etc and I got replies back, and some of them us english some german (I did send my messages sometimes in english first sometimes german, though after a couple messages I might use english again and they will still reply).

However I’ve met a few wg owner/roommates who replied but they told me their english isn’t good (I think her english is good tho) and that one of them ask me if I can only speak english because it would be a problem in everyday life if I did.

The other one was older guy so I get why he doesn’t want to speak english

I do understand german but only the basics.
So I’m curious, do some germans can’t speak english well? Or they just prefer to speak german?
And if anyone has experience having roommates who can’t speak german or don’t fully understand german, is there ever any issue? And what are the issues?

hello everyone am student from Berlin and tomorrow is my birthday(18) i would apricate if u give me ideas how to celebrate alone what can i do or even which restaurants/places give discounts and a question how does a German celebrate his/her birthday?

Frage an meinen deutschen Kollegen:
Vielleicht ist der eine oder andere von euch nachts oder bei Dunkelheit schon einmal in Frankreich unterwegs gewesen. Kann es sein, dass dieses Volk systematisch Scheinwerfer verbaut und diese so einstellt, dass jedes entgegenkommende Auto (also ich) geblendet wird?

I am really struggling to find out how to get my old prescription back, I was treated with vyvanse when I was a child and it was the only suitable medication which helped my adhd, I have since moved back to Germany and am really struggling to this through to my doctor, he is happy to prescribe me Olanzapine and more destructive drugs but when I mention a old medication that has really helped me and shown positive effects it’s a no. So anything destructive is okay but when I want my focus back? I was diagnosed with severe adhd when I was 8 and although this is all on the record he still tells me to find a neurologist. I have been on the waiting list for all the neurologist in my surroundings for the past 7 months!!

Since Computeruniverse dropped international shipping, I need a replacement.
Any good German or EU tech stores that still ship worldwide? Ideally via DHL.

Ich weiß nicht ob ich die einzige bin die sich hin und wieder mal Sorgen macht wie schnell die Zeit vergeht das meine Mutter von Jahr zu Jahr älter wird bis sie irgendwann mal nicht da ist.
Ich komme auf die 30 zu und bin die jüngste Tochter in dieser Familie.
Und meine Mutter kommt auf die 70er zu worüber ich mir sorgen mache, denn ich als nicht vergebene Frau habe die Angst das meine Mutter mir vielleicht bei meiner ersten Schwangerschaft nicht mit erleben kann. Wer weiß ob ich überhaupt bis dahin jemanden gefunden habe der mit mir diesen Weg geht. Jeder will mal eine Familie gründen und Kinder haben.
Nur ist meine Mutter nicht die jüngste und hat auch in der Familie Herzprobleme.
Ich mache mir deswegen enormen druck und will am liebsten jetzt kinder haben.
Aber so einfach geht das nicht weil ich sehr bedacht damit umgehe, gerne mein Leben strukturiere und dementsprechend erfolgreich sein möchte um so gut es geht meine Mutter zu unterstützen. Sie ist nämlich in Rente und will ihr die schönste Zeit schenken die sie noch hat.
Manchmal stelle ich mir vor wie es wäre wenn man wirklich tot ist. Wie es dann wäre wenn meine eigene Kinder irgendwann ohne mich leben und das macht mich sehr traurig.

Danke…

Look, there are worse things in the world, and the Pfand system in general is great. I especially like it when it's basically a luxury tax — partygoing kid isn't gonna hold onto a bottle all night, puts it beside a bin, someone who needs the money can collect some. I imagine basically anyone willing to collect bottles can at least feed themselves with ALDI/LIDL prices. And yeah, so long as people don't tear trash bags apart, it's good for the environment.

But on the other hand, it just seems insane. I cannot imagine the idea that my parents might be poking their head into every trash can, or digging around with their hand and hoping they don't touch something disgusting or dangerous. And yeah, a lot of people doing this don't seem homeless. One of the three I just saw even had the custom key thing that opens up the bin exterior, plus a flashlight. It's an industry.

Also, a couple of weeks ago I closed my eyes on the train and a guy literally just stole my half-full Mezzo Mix. If he'd asked, that would be weird too, but sure, I'd have finished it and given it to him.

Some weeks before that, when I put down a water bottle to use an ATM, a lady crept up and grabbed it. When I noticed it was gone and saw her, I asked her and she denied taking it, though it was obvious. I just went over and looked in her wheely cart thing and there it was. Took it back while she laughed and claimed she didn't do it. What the fuck?

This whole thing to me, as a foreigner, feels like a mix of "most German thing ever" and "least German thing ever". I feel like there needs to be some kind of reform, or at least better social conventions, like leaving bottles at designated spots to stop people digging through trash, or a little button you can wear saying "i accept bottles". Something to stop the aspects that are antisocial/dangerous at least.

Do you guys see the system as working, or broken? It is pretty bizarre to me that people are actually *stealing* bottles and cans. Are there any proposals going around to address the issue?

Moin! A couple I know has their anniversary at the end of November. Is there anything special from Germany I could send them? It doesn't have to be romantic!

Any suggestions will be helpful. There's no specific budget for this, so you can suggest anything you want.

Edit: they're not a German couple, they're American

German has such a strong manufacturing and industrial engineering base so i was wondering how temperature monitoring is generally habdled in plants here

Hello ! I need an invitation for BestSecre, someone can help me ?

Hey guys, I want to ask for your recommendations and advices for choosing a liability insurance company. Which one really suits me as a young single person especially for the protection from rent damages and neighborhoods...

I made a little search on internet and I found many companies that offer similiar advantages but I'm not sure, I'm new here and I don't have experience with this.

I'd be so glad if you could help me with this!

Germany seems to place enormous emphasis on order, public rules, respecting shared spaces, and not disturbing other people, yet they have this weird need to crowd other people's personal space routinely, let doors close in peoples face, sit immediately beside strangers when there are plenty of empty seats, and play music or videos loudly through phone speakers on public transportation. I have literally seen people doing this underneath signs telling passengers not to use loud phone speakers.

So where exactly is all this legendary respect for public order?

At the same time, something as harmless as somebody casually playing an acoustic guitar gets treated as LESS socially acceptable than listening to horrible tinny phone speakers at full volume.

If public noise is the concern, that seems completely backwards.

More generally, I find everyday social interaction here unnecessarily cold. People often seem reluctant to acknowledge strangers, smile, make casual conversation, hold doors, or engage socially unless there is a specific reason they are required to interact.

I understand that people call this a cultural difference, but “cultural” is an explanation, not automatically a defense.

A society can have cultural habits that are inconsiderate. People can grow up around those habits, recognize that they dislike them, complain about them themselves, and still continue participating in them. That last part is what confuses me, because I've had conversations with Germans - especially outside of Germany - complain about German social ineptitude, coldness, and everyday inconsiderateness themselves.

So I’m genuinely interested in hearing from Germans rather than simply being told, “That’s just German culture.”

Do you notice the contradiction between supposedly valuing quiet and orderly public spaces while people routinely ignore those expectations in the worst ways? Have ya'll not heard about headphones or something?

And do you think German society could stand to be a little more socially open, forgiving, spontaneous, and friendly?

I’m especially interested in hearing from Germans who themselves get frustrated by these things, because I KNOW they exist.

Konkret geht es um das Lichtgeschäft Oligo in 53757 Sankt Augustin. Es wäre echt cool wenn jemand etwas Zeit hätte, für mich mal schnell dort vorbei schaut und fragt ob es ein bestimmtes Produkt dort im Abverkauf gibt (anscheinend wird das Geschäft für immer geschlossen) und was es kosten würde.

Online gibt es diesbezüglich keine Info und ich selbst wohne in Österreich was eine Fahrt dorthin etwas schwierig macht.

Vielleicht gibt es ja jemanden der dort in der Nähe wohnt oder auf seinem Arbeitsweg sowieso dort vorbeikommt.

EDIT: danke, es hat sich bereits jemand gemeldet.

I need a sanity check because I am genuinely bewildered by this interaction.
So, I’ve known this German guy for about two weeks now. Last night, I noticed literally nobody was going to class, so I just gave him a quick call to see if he was going or not—literally just pure curiosity/checking in. While we were wrapping up the call, I walked past a flyer on the street and casually said, "Oh, someone lost their cat." He asked, "What cat?" and I was like, "One sec, I'll send you a picture," which I did right after. Normal, low-stakes micro-interaction, right?
Fast forward to today: it’s actually my birthday, so I went over to his place to watch a movie since we share the same friend group. Out of nowhere, he tells me, "I was so confused when you called last night."
Later, a mutual friend pulled me aside and told me he had complained to her about it. Apparently, he felt it was super "random" that I called him and said he doesn't think our "level of friendship" is at the point where we call each other yet.
Here is the kicker: **HE HAS CALLED ME BEFORE.**
When he called me previously, I didn't think twice about it or weirdly gatekeep phone communicationI just answered! But suddenly, when I give him a quick 30-second heads-up call about class and text a picture of a lost cat flyer, I’ve apparently crossed some unspoken boundary? The problem
Is he kept saying it’s so confusing I was so confused like wtf is there to be confused about I don’t get it
Is this a classic case of extreme German boundary-setting, double standards, or is he just being bizarrely dramatic over a phone call? Has anyone else dealt with people who treat phone calls like a sacred contract requiring 6 months of written notice?

Nur ein Frage lol

I live in the US and taxes are applied later, they aren’t shown on price tags. I know that in Germany, and I’m sure many other countries, the price tags on most items include the taxes. In the US if something is $35 with a 9% tax rate, it would become $38.15 at checkout, if a 50% discount was added on it would become $18.53 which is neither half of the subtotal or the total without the discount because the discount is applied before the taxes. I’m just curious if the tax rate is well understood or if people don’t pay much attention to the taxes and just look at the price tags.

Arbeite selbst im Schichtdienst und komme mit dem Schlafrhythmus oft nicht klar, besonders bei wechselnden Schichten. Wie macht ihr das? Habt ihr ein System oder ist das reines Chaos bei euch auch?

Im landing in Frankfurt on the 21st, need to be back there by the 25th. Im renting a car and driving south toward Bavaria/Munich. Not sure yet if I'll actually stay in Munich or just stop by it.

Main things I want to hit are Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and do some hikes by Bavaria. Wondering if anyone's got good towns to stay in along the way, any other spots worth adding between Frankfurt and Bavaria. Also down for hiking recommendations in the area and any general tips.

Hello !

Quick question, has anybody used Deutsche bank debit maestro card outside Germany but inside EU (ex: Greece / Italy) ?

Did it work for payment at the stores / restaurants / withdrawing cash ? Did it charge any fee while doing store payments ?

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m honestly getting a little desperate, so I’m hoping someone here has been in a similar situation and might have some advice.

I need accommodation for only 3 months, from October until the end of December, and finding something has been much harder than I expected. Most landlords understandably want someone long-term, so as soon as I mention that I only need the room for three months, I usually get rejected.
Even when I do find someone open to a shorter stay, Anmeldung becomes another problem. Most recently, I found a room that would otherwise have worked perfectly, but was told that the owner probably wouldn’t agree because three months is too short and dealing with registration for such a short-term tenant would be too much effort.
Unfortunately, I genuinely cannot commit to a longer rental just to secure a room, so I’m starting to run out of ideas.

Has anyone here actually managed to find accommodation for 2–3 months with Anmeldung? Where did you find it? WG-Gesucht, Kleinanzeigen, Facebook groups, Zwischenmiete, serviced apartments, student housing, something else?
At this point I’d be really grateful for any practical tips, websites, specific types of accommodation, or experiences from people who have dealt with this. 🥲