Y'know, things like a 35 hour work week.
Germany has provided a very clear example of how to create a growing industrial economy with a trade surplus. Relatively tight credit, relatively flexible labor markets, and relatively sane fiscal policy. The funny part is that Germany's policies aren't really all that marvelous -- they're just better than the others'.
It is only up to the French (and the Italians, Greeks, Spaniards, and Portugese) to emulate it. That they don't want to is all you need to know.
It all has the fringe benefit of controlling inflation. It is rising wages and domestic prices due to monetary inflation that make cheaper foreign goods more attractive leading to trade deficits. The Germans (and the Japanese by the way) understand this very well.
Recalling the old saw from Margaret Thatcher that socialism works until they run out of other people’s money, now some people are finding out how hard life is going to be when the future they have worked so hard to achieve has finally arrived.
Not inevitable at all, IMHO. The article provides no supporting evidence for this assertion.
"Germany has overplayed its hand badly and will face a whirlwind diplomatic retribution".
On the contrary, money talks, not diplomacy. Colbert himself said:
"It is simply, and solely, the abundance of money within a state [which] makes the difference in its grandeur and power."
AEP calls all those who insist that Europe lives within its means "pub bores" with "an old meme".
Germany will not pay for profligacy of the Latin and Greek states no matter how old the "meme" becomes.
Germany is a single non-leftist (at least the Western states(lands) nation left in Europe. it is not surprising they are winning competition.
Of course, others are to blame Germany for their own faults but it has nothing to do with another unfriendly takeover.