Rising energy prices, a lack of skilled workers - and then the lame internet.
A majority fears that German companies won't be able to keep up with this for much longer.
Is she right?
Cologne – The majority of Germans doubt the future viability of Germany as a production location.
At least that is what the result of a new INSA study commissioned by SMC suggests, which is exclusively available to the
Münchner Merkur
from
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
According to this, 63 percent of those surveyed assume that German companies will relocate some or all of their production abroad in the near future.
The reasons given are rising energy prices (83 percent), high production costs (71 percent), bureaucracy (60 percent), high personnel costs (57 percent) and political framework conditions (39 percent).
Is the fear justified?
"Yes and no," says Dirk Dohse, economist at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
It depends on the industry.
The areas in which a lot of energy is used are particularly affected: building materials, metals, chemicals, paper.
The reports that gas and electricity are becoming cheaper again do not give hope either.
Because: “Other countries, for example France, have advantages because they rely on nuclear power.
We have benefited from cheap energy from Russia for a long time, but those days are irretrievably over,” says Dohse.
Germany as a business location: Are companies moving to the USA?
The economic expert is concerned about developments in the USA.
The Inflation Reduction Act was passed there.
Contrary to what the name might suggest, this has nothing to do with inflation.
The government of US President Joe Biden is providing the equivalent of around 350 billion euros in state aid for investments in climate protection and sustainable technologies.
"This is ultimately a subsidy program to lure industry to the US, particularly in the area of green technology," says Dohse.
The consequences are unpleasant - for Germany as a business location as a whole, but not for the individual companies.
“The German companies are of course happy.
You can now choose where the conditions are best,” says the economist.
An hour's drive from Kiel, where Dohse conducts research, one can see how the law passed in the USA is having an impact on the Schleswig-Holstein prairies.
The Swedish company Northvolt is planning a battery factory in Heide, a small town in the west of the state.
Or do you have to say, planned?
The reason: "The USA is courting subsidies to build the factory there," says Dohse.
Should Germany follow suit – and spend more money to attract companies?
"Not a good idea," says Dohse.
"Ultimately, it's tax money that can be better used - for infrastructure and education, for example."
"Made in Germany has lost its shine"
The respondents to the study, however, do not take politics seriously.
They think it's the companies' turn.
You should be doing significantly more to secure the site.
examples?
Production "Made in Germany" needs to become more efficient, say 51 percent of those surveyed.
50 percent are in favor of “more sustainable development” or “optimization of costs”.
48 percent see the sticking point in the consistent "advancement of digitization".
All valid points, says economics expert Dohse.
But he still has something to add: the shortage of skilled workers.
Companies have been complaining for months that far too many positions are not filled.
In this case, it's worth looking at the USA, says Dohse.
“The United States is doing what we can't: attracting talent from abroad.
The sad truth is that more young inventors and scientists go to the US from the EU than vice versa,” says Dohse.
The reasons for this are increased top-level funding and an environment "in which I can implement innovations very quickly and on a large scale."
Nevertheless, Dohse is not fundamentally concerned about Germany as a production location.
This also has to do with the “Made in Germany” label.
A seal that still pulls.
Dohse: "German products are still in great demand, as the export statistics show."
