Indeed, Germany is a viable option for all the reasons cited by Albert. If I wasn't already rooted now in the Netherlands, Germany would be my tops for a place to work and live. As Kingstonian and myself have realised, Germany is an extremely underrated place and in terms of quality of life and opportunities it is difficult to beat.

I travel throughout Europe and I can honestly say the discipline and effectiveness of the German work force cannot be beaten. But also they enjoy much superior work conditions and investment in factory infrastructure that is sorely lacking in an also ran, such as the UK. The Brits remains stoic improvisers, working in arduous conditions compared to counterparts in Germany and Northern Italy. Good training I suppose for when the shit hits the fan.

When I first worked in Brazil I expected factory conditions and work to be much more harsh and primitive compared to Blighty. What I actually found was superb investment in equipments and tools, many more staff to do the same tasks and vacations that would put the UK to shame. Of course wages were deflated and where the UK had the edge was in the superior work processes, in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

I personally rate the British work force - those who work in the private sector, from my experience - as disciplined and with an excellent work ethic. Were the Brits have been seriously let down - unlike the Germans - is the cronic lack of investment in technology and short term business thinking which has crushed the backbone of manufacturing.

Having now read that report yesterday evening, it is pretty much a damning verdict on the mismanagement and cavalier Brown and Blair years, but what the report doesn't cover is the need for a cultural change in management and business practices - a re-focus on business and operational excellence based on high value technology and long term planning and vision.

But yes, if the markets consider the UK as Germany-lite, then they are in for a rude awakening when they wake up and smell the coffee. You can't compare the dynamic Germany to spiv-Britannia.

Last edited by formby (2012-10-31 10:57:16)

Theres an economic (not simple business return) return to a nation by having universal health coverage that ensures people are healthy. Less costs in care, aged care, palliative care, more productive working life etc. USA has the highest health care expenditure in all the world and yet has worse than third world outcomes in some important categories.

Here we have top 5 outcomes - low expenditure. We have universal coverage for all - above certain incomes you pay 1.5% levy plus you can pay extra for private insurance - which in truth buys sfa except slightly shorter waiting times - I pay around aud$4,000 in private insurance a year. Not really worth it.

Amazingly here dental is not included in universal insurance and again sfa in private.

They didn't actually follow her policies, they pretended they did and then Brown went all loco borrowing whilst telling us he had defeated the laws of economics and Blair jumped ship wishing us a hearty "Good Luck!" (you're going to need it suckers!) and promptly deserted the sinking ship knowing full well that the proverbial was going to hit the fan.