The smiling new face of German big business
From Allianz to Zalando, pedlars of services are outdoing industrial firms at home—and foreign rivals abroad
GERMANS ARE a brooding bunch. After all, their language gave the world “angst”. After five years of trouble some may even be feeling a sense of Niedergeschlagenheit (literally, beaten-downness). Covid-19 was followed in 2022 by war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices and cooling Chinese demand for German wares. Europe’s biggest economy last grew year on year in the first quarter of 2023—and then only by a downbeat 0.2%.
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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “At your service”
Business
March 1st 2025- Nvidia is fighting both Trump and China
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From the March 1st 2025 edition
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How Trump’s tariffs could crush American carmakers
They must hope the levies do not endure
The Economist’s office agony uncle is back
Another bulging postbag for Max Flannel
Airbus has not taken full advantage of Boeing’s weakness
That could leave a gap for other planemakers to fill
The business of second-hand clothing is booming
Can it be profitable, too?
Zyn is giving investors a buzz—for now
Nicotine pouches are growing fast
The trouble with MAGA’s chipmaking dreams
TSMC will keep making most of the world’s advanced chips at home for years to come