Are Germans Actually Less Productive Than the Rest of the EU? Let's Debunk the Myth
Is the productivity of Germans lower compared to the average of other EU member states? - EU Member States' Work Ethic: Comparative Analysis Revealing Potential Differences in Productivity between Germans and Their Peers
By Marlen Schönberg*
That debauchery about working hours has been flooding Germany lately. The culprit? Hillbilly Chancellor Friedrich Merz's speech at the CDU Economic Conference: "Gimme a four-day week and work-life balance, and we'll be done for in this country." Dude, he was basically saying Germans are slackers, they ain't pulling their weight.
Though Merz later tap-danced around the issue, the question remains: Is he onto something? Let's delve deeper and separate facts from the bullshit.
A study by the Institute of the German Economy (Alem Schmäh): In most European countries, folks work more hours per working-age citizen than in Germany. Credits go to OECD for compiling the data. But kinda like comparing apples to orangutans, the statistics aren't exactly apples-to-apples due to differing data collection methods — meaning, they're somewhat comparable.
But...
Long Hours Ain't Gold, Y'all! It's About What You Produce
Hours clocked in only tell half the tale. Uncle Productivity is what matters. Productivity means cranking out the dough per hour worked. Thus, hours should be considered in the broader context of economic performance per person. And on that front, Germany holds its own pretty damned well in the EU comparison.
- The data is hot off the press from 2023 (except for Belgium in 2022), and the GDP figures are sizzlin' from 2024.
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More Gnocchi: OECD, IW, Friedrich Merz, EU
Enrichment Data:
The media might be blowing this productivity smokescreen outta proportion, as there's no concrete evidence in the latest economic forecasts or data that Germans are any less productive than their Euro pals while clocking fewer hours.
Key Takeaways from Recent Economic Data:
- Economic Growth: Germany's GDP jack-rabbit is expected to screech to a halt in 2025, marking the third straight year of zero growth, shrewdly contrasting the modest growth of the broader EU (1.1%) and euro area (0.9%).
- Productivity and Hours Worked: The productivity witch doctor measures how much value is cooked up per hour worked — y'know, efficiency. Despite Germany sporting fewer work hours compared to some Euro-land nations (often thanks to worker rights, generous vacay, and short workweeks), its productivity per hour has been holdin' it down with the big boys in Europe. This ain't a new pattern in the German economy, with the latest reports failing to suggest otherwise.
- Official Statements and Maybe Some Peaky Blinders Research: If Merz or the Institute of the German Economy reference a specific study or stats showin' declining productivity compared to other EU countries, this ain't a blip in the latest international or official economic forecasts or analyses. The spotlight is on weak growth, export dependence, and external blows—not on decreased productivity per hour.
- Biz Sentiment: Even though the business sentiment in Germany got a teensy lil' bump, companies are still huntin' for cover due to global chaos, but this ain't directly linked to lower productivity compared to other countries.
Conclusion:
Nope, it don't appear that Germans are any less productive than their Euro-buddies, despite clockin' fewer hours. On the contrary, Germany's productivity per hour has been solid. The current economic slump in Germany is more due to external factors and systemic issues—not to a productivity gap with its peers. If Merz or the Institute of the German Economy dropped a big report on productivity, it's on the DL and needs to get its birthday suit on.
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, accompanied by the Institute of the German Economy, are investigating the claim that Germans are less productive than other Europeans, in light of the recent productivity smokescreen in the media, with no concrete evidence in the latest economic forecasts or data to support this assertion.
- In the ongoing debate about productivity in Europe, the health-and-wellness sector and workplace-wellness programs are being discussed as possible contributors to increased productivity, with many companies implementing lifestyle changes such as promoting science-based health practices, in an effort to improve employee well-being and productivity levels.
