Changes

The German Supreme Court ruled the move unconstitutional. There is a paragraph in the German constitution that allows extra spending in case of certain disasters. Self-inflicted pain is not a disaster covered by the constitution. Even though it is a disaster.

The German Supreme Court ruled the move unconstitutional. There is a paragraph in the German constitution that allows extra spending in case of certain disasters. Self-inflicted pain is not a disaster covered by the constitution. Even though it is a disaster.

The German government's plan was to use the money for subsidizing businesses and for the transition to green energy, away from nuclear energy and [[natural gas]]. For some unknown reason, Germany’s [[Green Party]], which came to power on a platform to limit carbon emissions, as of 2022 still “endorses” coal fired electrical plants.

The German government's plan was to use the money for subsidizing businesses and for the transition to green energy, away from nuclear energy and [[natural gas]]. For some unknown reason, Germany’s [[Green Party]], which came to power on a platform of limiting carbon emissions, as of 2022 still “endorses” coal fired electrical plants.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed down, and even declined, from the mid-1970s through the recession of the early 1980s. The economy then experienced 8 consecutive years of growth that ended with a downturn beginning in late 1992. Since unification, Germany has seen annual average real growth of only about 1.5% and stubbornly high unemployment. In 2006, Germany had its best year since 2000 with 2.7% growth; for 2007, growth was at 2.5% despite a 3 percentage point VAT hike at the beginning of the year. The government forecasts 1.7% growth in GDP for 2008. Unemployment in 2007 dropped to an annualized average of 9.0% nationwide, but it is still significantly higher—15.1%--in the German states that make up the former East Germany.  

Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed down, and even declined, from the mid-1970s through the recession of the early 1980s. The economy then experienced 8 consecutive years of growth that ended with a downturn beginning in late 1992. Since unification, Germany has seen annual average real growth of only about 1.5% and stubbornly high unemployment. In 2006, Germany had its best year since 2000 with 2.7% growth; for 2007, growth was at 2.5% despite a 3 percentage point VAT hike at the beginning of the year. The government forecasts 1.7% growth in GDP for 2008. Unemployment in 2007 dropped to an annualized average of 9.0% nationwide, but it is still significantly higher—15.1%--in the German states that make up the former East Germany.