Germany is the world’s third largest economy after the US and Japan in terms of GDP, and as one of the top exporters of merchandise products, one of the world’s most important trading nations. It has a high GDP per capita income of some EUR 25 900 and enjoys high standards of social welfare. It is also the largest economy and most populous country in the EU, with 82.3 million inhabitants. Re-unification has boosted Germany’s strategically central location in Europe, which promotes especially strong east-west ties with other European countries. Manufacturing industries with a strong export orientation (including automobiles, chemicals, machinery, shipbuilding, electrical engineering, and household equipment) remain the backbone of a diverse economy. The services sector ....