Schäuble warns green policies are harming German economy

[FBaggins]

Germany’s powerful finance minister said on Tuesday that Berlin may have gone too far in its attempts to protect the environment, saying his government must now “rebalance” its policies to ensure environmental regulations do not cost jobs.

Wolfgang Schäuble took issue with claims that the “green economy” will be a major driver of employment, saying Berlin’s decision two years ago to shutter its nuclear power plants and emphasise renewables needed to be re-examined.

...snip...

Critics charged Brussels with putting economic growth ahead of climate change concerns; the EU has long been the strongest advocate internationally for tough environmental standards and a retreat by Europe on the issue could have major implications for the global debate.

...snip...

Before the Brussels announcement, Mr Gabriel warned that Germany has “reached the limit of what we can ask of our economy” in terms of energy prices. But Mr Schäuble’s remarks appeared to go further, suggesting a rolling-back of existing regulations was in order.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5273b218-8802-11e3-8afa-00144feab7de.html#axzz2sJKCsFtV

[on point]

1. Time to put in place punitive environmental tariffs

It isn't the environment hurting the economy it is the cheats who hurt the environment who are hurting the economy like China and the Usa

[Iterate]

2. Record exports, 5.1% unemployment, skilled labor shortage...

German manufacturing grows in January at fastest rate since May 2011: PMI
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/03/us-german-manufacturing-pmi-idUSBREA120CF20140203

In World's Best-Run Economy, House Prices Keep Falling -- Because That's What House Prices Are Supposed To Do
It is hard to quarrel with the results. On figures cited in 2012 by the British housing consultant Colin Wiles, one-bedroom apartments in Berlin were then selling for as little as $55,000, and four-bedroom detached houses in the Rhineland for just $80,000. Equivalent properties in New York City and Silicon Valley were selling for as much as ten times higher.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2014/02/02/in-worlds-best-run-economy-home-prices-just-keep-falling-because-thats-what-home-prices-are-supposed-to-do/

Germany preparing third financial rescue for Greece
New loan, outlined in a German finance ministry position paper, would be worth €10bn-€20bn, says Der Spiegel magazine
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/02/germany-preparing-third-financial-rescue-greece

German Economy Grows at Modest Pace
For all of 2013, the German economy grew 0.4 percent from 2012, the Federal Statistical Office said in Berlin. That compared to growth of 0.7 percent in 2012.

“The German economy suffered from the continuing recession in some European countries and from restrained growth of the global economy,” Roderich Egeler, president of the Federal Statistical Office, said in a statement. “The strong domestic demand could offset those factors only to a limited extent.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/business/international/german-economy-grows-at-modest-pace.html?_r=0

Survey: German consumers increasingly positive about economy
Times Colonist-Jan 29, 2014
BERLIN - A closely-watched survey shows German consumers are becoming increasingly positive as the economy picks up speed.
http://www.timescolonist.com/survey-german-consumers-increasingly-positive-about-economy-1.805942

I saw Schäuble’s comments earlier, but thought that even though you were on a roll, surely you'd skip that bogus one. Couldn't resist it though when FT picked up the story, could you?

[FBaggins]

4. Bogus?

Is it that you don't think the finance minister made the quoted statements? Or that they aren't actually concerned about their ability to remain competitive with the US?

[madokie]

5. It reads to me like

the 'powerful finance minister' is full of shit

[quadrature]

3. export-Mechantlism Nazism, Germany and China et al, ...

is a crime against peace and humanity.