Rethinking Germany's Economic Model: Regional and Historical Trends

Despite its reputation as the world’s export champion, Germany’s export-led economy is in crisis. Declining manufacturing and exports have led some commentators to again call Germany the “sick man of Europe.” This talk takes a closer look at the German model by examining its regional components. Public debate and much scholarship often treat Germany’s export-led economy as one unified model. Yet there is considerable variation across regions—especially between east and west but also between industrialized, service-oriented, and rural regions—and over time. Is there truly one Modell Deutschland, or are there multiple models within Germany? And how do these regional models shape regional and national policymaking? Drawing on historical regional data and a novel dataset of regional party platforms (1945–2023), this talk shows that Germany’s regional economies follow distinct patterns. Regional policy agendas often diverge from national ones—not along partisan lines, but by economic structure. Parties’ preferences reflect their regional economies, regardless of affiliation. The talk argues for a more disaggregated view of the German model, one that takes regional diversity seriously.

 

Jonas von Ciriacy-Wantrup is currently a doctoral researcher in Sociology at Berlin's Free University (JFK Institute). Previously, he completed his bachelor’s degree in social sciences at the University of Cologne and his master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in Political Economy of Europe. His current research focus is on the regionalization of the growth model perspective, specifically, the regional politics behind subnational growth models. Generally, his research interests lie in economic, political and urban sociology as well as in Comparative Political Economy.