Sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason (full disclosure, I'm mostly German and love my Volkswagen). The stereotype of the tedious German Engineer, the fastidious multi-language speaking German businessman and the hardworking/quality-focused German worker all come together here in the below story.
Modern Germany has a very unique ability to be worldly in its selling markets, yet nationalist regarding ownership, management, labor and its parts/materials sourcing for manufacturing industries. Only Germany would (at one time) actually have a law forcing one of its flagship (flag-carrying?) companies to keep management control in the hands of local municipality where its located regardless of ownership percentage*.
The story here is about Germany as a manufacturing powerhouse, despite having higher than average wages and a very decent average standard of living.
Source -> http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2053595,00.html
*I always took it that the law was originally intended to prevent foreign control, even though the most recent challenge was from Germany's own Porsche Automobil Holding SE
on a lighter note (much lighter), check out this ACTUAL GERMAN TRAINING VIDEO (?) trying to prevent industrial workplace accidents.... While the time article above might give Germany a few ticks in the positive column, I guarantee this offsets that. Haha - oh Klaus...
2:53, 5:00, 5:50, 6:45, 6:55, 7:15
