The Dynamics of German Industry : Germany's Path Toward the New Economy and the American Challenge

Over the past decade, the "German Model" of industrial organization has been the subject of vigorous debate among social scientists and historians, especially in comparison to the American one. Is a "Rhenish capitalism" still viable at the beginning of the 21st century and does it offer a road to the New Economy different from the one, in which the standards are set by the U.S.? The author, one of Germany's leading economic historians, analyzes the special features of the German path to the New Economy as it faces the American challenge. He paints a fascinating picture of Germany Inc. and looks at the durability of some of its structures and the mentalities that undergird it. He sees a "culture clash" and argues against an underestimation of the dynamics of the German industrial system. A provocative book for all interested in comparative economics and those who have been inclined to dismiss the German Model as outmoded and weak.

Werner Abelshauser taught European History at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy. He now holds the Chair in Economic History at the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Bielefeld and is one of the directors of the Bielefeld Institute for Global Society Studies. His publications include books and articles on the history of European integration, economic history, and business history.