The Germans spent last decade reforming their pension system and labor market.
Keep in mind that "reforming their pension system and labor market" is neoliberal code for "reducing the share of national income that goes towards workers and employees". So it is disingenuous to claim that labor is reaping the rewards these days. [1]
I mean sure, if you cut social safety nets and retirement systems, and pass the savings on to foreigners who are buying your export goods, then that will boost your exports. That doesn't make it good policy.
As for your metaphor, two can play that game.
Germany is more like the father who doesn't give a damn about the kid, thinks it's the kid's own damn fault - despite him regularly beating him/her (that's metaphor for Germany undercutting everybody else in the market, in case it's not clear), and is happy to see the kid end up unemployed, homeless, and with an abysmal life expectancy (all of these things are already literally reality or are starting to become so in Greece).
The rehab route would be to stop the insane domestic policies in Germany, install a bureaucracy that can do proper tax collections and fight corruption in Greece, and simultaneously stimulate the hell out of their economy.
Hey, nobody said rehab is easy - it requires both discipline and compassion.
[1] In terms of real income this is obvious from even a very cursory glance at the data. In terms of unemployment, the picture is admittedly not quite so obvious. Unemployment rates are lower than in the southern countries, but even the official numbers are still very high by any reasonable standard. It gets worse when you consider marginal work (part time etc.).
Keep in mind that "reforming their pension system and labor market" is neoliberal code for "reducing the share of national income that goes towards workers and employees". So it is disingenuous to claim that labor is reaping the rewards these days. [1]
I mean sure, if you cut social safety nets and retirement systems, and pass the savings on to foreigners who are buying your export goods, then that will boost your exports. That doesn't make it good policy.
As for your metaphor, two can play that game.
Germany is more like the father who doesn't give a damn about the kid, thinks it's the kid's own damn fault - despite him regularly beating him/her (that's metaphor for Germany undercutting everybody else in the market, in case it's not clear), and is happy to see the kid end up unemployed, homeless, and with an abysmal life expectancy (all of these things are already literally reality or are starting to become so in Greece).
The rehab route would be to stop the insane domestic policies in Germany, install a bureaucracy that can do proper tax collections and fight corruption in Greece, and simultaneously stimulate the hell out of their economy.
Hey, nobody said rehab is easy - it requires both discipline and compassion.
[1] In terms of real income this is obvious from even a very cursory glance at the data. In terms of unemployment, the picture is admittedly not quite so obvious. Unemployment rates are lower than in the southern countries, but even the official numbers are still very high by any reasonable standard. It gets worse when you consider marginal work (part time etc.).