Germany, once a powerhouse, is at an economic 'standstill'

“Germans are so risk-averse, it’s almost a psychological thing,” said Sander Tordoir, an economist at the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank in Berlin.

He pointed to the country’s growing green tech sector as a bright spot in the economy, those industries that develop technology for environmental protection, renewable energies and the efficient use of resources.

...“The Germans need to think about what kind of economy they want,” Mr. Tordoir said. “But once they make the jump to deregulate and let go of fiscal straitjackets, there is a lot of potential in the German economy. It’s just not being used.”