Why Germany can’t save the eurozone
Investors are hoping that a strong Germany can save the eurozone from recession. But they shouldn't get their hopes up, says Matthew Partridge. Germany has plenty of problems of its own.
When it comes to Europe, we're all getting fed up of hearing about the problems in the periphery, and the latest disaster in Greece. But no one ever talks about Germany's economic woes.
That might seem an odd thing to say. After all, Germany is the country leading the bail-out package, and having its flag burned on the streets of Athens. Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel's appearances on the French campaign trail are boosting the re-election hopes of Sarkozy.
And it's true that Germany is in a better position than other eurozone countries. Unemployment stands at 5.5%, while the deficit is just 0.1% of GDP.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
But you shouldn't over-estimate Germany's strength. The economy shrunk by 0.2% in the last quarter. Growth in both manufacturing and services is stalling. And things may be about to get even worse.
Germany's exports are under threat
Germany has always relied on exports to drive growth. The strength of the deutschemark, and the costs of unification after 1990, kept the sector in check. However, the advent of the euro made it easier to build up trade surpluses, because weaker countries like Greece and Portugal could no longer make their currencies cheaper as a way of competing with Germany.
By 2010, Germany had a trade surplus of $188.4bn, equivalent to 5.7% of GDP. The export boom helped to bring unemployment down from a peak of 11.5% in April 2005.
For this economic model to keep working, other eurozone countries had to keep buying German goods. To do so they ran up huge debts, both public and private, funded by lending much of which came from German banks. However, now debt levels in Greece and many of its peers have spiraled out of control.
That means things need to change. If the Greeks default and leave the euro (the best solution), then their new currency will be weaker. This will make their goods more competitive. But even if they stick with austerity, demand will suffer which will reduce the level of imports into Greece.
Either way, German firms will end up selling less abroad which will cut the surplus. Already exports are starting to decline, falling by 0.8% in Q4 2011.
German consumers have more debt than you think
The obvious solution would be for Germans to consume more boosting domestic demand. But this won't be easy. Contrary to myth, German households do borrow. Indeed, the household sector has a higher debt-to-disposable income ratio than Greece.
This is partly a legacy of the slow growth in the early- to mid-1990s - debt has only increased slowly since 2002. However, it still means that many will be looking to pay down debt rather than increase their spending. Indeed, consumer spending fell by 0.1% last quarter.
Consumers are also wary about the future. Although consumer confidence improved this month, the three-month moving average is still sharply negative at -23.3. This is well below historic levels.
Meanwhile, while Wall Street and the City have been rightly criticised for their role in the financial crisis, people forget that in many ways the German banks were even worse. A good case could be made that they made the most mistakes especially the state-run Landesbanks.
Although Berlin made vague promises about reducing the role of the public sector in the banking system, the Landesbanks still have a large exposure to Greek debt. While a formal default might help them get money back via their insurance, it would also force them to take losses which the German state would then have to cover.
Another key sign that the German economy is in no fit state to pull the eurozone out of recession is its weak rate of monetary growth. M3 grew by a relatively strong 5.8% year-on-year in December. But measured on a three-month annualised basis, the rate slows to 2%. And in December, the money supply actually fell.
Don't get me wrong. Germany is still one of the strongest economies in Europe. Its fiscal problems pale when compared with countries like Greece. Its institutions (apart from the public banks) are strong.
However, the point is, it is not immune from the area's problems, and nor can it save the eurozone from recession. Indeed, any economic readjustment is going to come at the expense of German firms which is one reason why Berlin wants to delay the inevitable.
Sign up to Money Morning
Our team, led by award winning editors, is dedicated to delivering you the top news, analysis, and guides to help you manage your money, grow your investments and build wealth.
Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.
He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.
Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.
As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri
-
Do you qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment if you live abroad?
The Winter Fuel Payment will be means tested for expats living in Europe, in line with the new rules impacting those in the UK. But a quirk in the system means not all countries are eligible.
By Katie Williams Published
-
What the Employment Rights Bill means for your job
New workplace reforms are set to give employees new rights to benefits and flexible working
By Marc Shoffman Published