A decade of “aimless complacency”

In terms of the economy, Germany “took it rather easy” in the 2010s, making little effort to invest in revitalising its educational system or infrastructure, Hertie School President Henrik Enderlein said in an interview on the German radio station, Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

In a decade characterised by crisis, austerity and saving, “We didn’t invest much, didn’t do much to renew our country structurally,” he said. Looking ahead, Enderlein noted that many indicators point to a “correction” on markets: “The question is whether there will be another crisis with broad structural consequences as in 2007, 8, 9 and 10, also in Europe. I don’t expect that right now, but we have to prepare for corrections.” In addition, there is much uncertainty as we do not yet fully understand the effects of current societal shifts, he said.

Listen to the interview on Deutschlandfunk Kultur.