Guest commentary: Admired, but left behind: Germany is squandering its strengths

When talking to entrepreneurs or investors about Germany outside in the world, one experiences a remarkable paradox. German quality is admired, but Germany's speed is at best smiled at. Germany is considered reliable, but not dynamic. It is seen as precise, but increasingly less as innovative.

And yet, start-ups were founded in Berlin backyards when there were not even garages in Silicon Valley. These have given rise to companies that have shaped Germany's economic success for more than 150 years. "Made in Germany" has a value worldwide that other nations have to work hard to achieve. However, the tone has changed.

Germany is increasingly perceived internationally as a country that manages its past excellently but designs its future only hesitantly. While other economies are picking up speed, Germany is discussing responsibilities, subsidy frameworks, and arguing about long-overdue structural reforms.

Comparison with the USA, China, and Argentina A look at three countries - the USA, China, and Argentina - shows what deficits Germany has and where our opportunities lie. The USA is the world's strongest economy, but it too has undergone a profound transformation process. Cities like Detroit once represented the industrial core of the American economy. Today, Detroit is considered a warning example of deindustrialization. Factories are closed, jobs have disappeared, and social problems have taken over.