Even if Germany’s economy finally begins expanding again in 2024, it’ll struggle to shake off the funk behind one of its weakest annual performances in a generation. Beset by energy woes and creaking infrastructure, hit by a downturn in global demand, and lagging in the race for electric-vehicle dominance, the country was probably in recession as it ended 2023 with a shock court decision that undermined Berlin’s whole strategy for budget financing. With industrial data next week likely to show little improvement from a three-year low, the government strait-jacketed over ramping up investment, and the threat of train ... (full story)