A recent government study showed Germany's competitive profile has eroded seriously over the past decade, with strength only in automobiles, chemicals and machine tools. A separate report by the McKinsey consultancy group found that per capita spending on software and computer-related services was 50 percent behind that of the United States. Meanwhile, the German treasury has been spending vast sums of money to shield inefficient enterprises from the harsh winds of competition. No sector enjoys greater state protection than the German coal-mining industry. Guenter Dach, a spokesman for the German Coal Mining Association, says that what may appear to be a waste of resources should actually be recognized as a strategic asset.
Coal mining is really a political enterprise.
It has always been supported by the state in one way or another. We proved our worth during the oil crisis of the 1970s.