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Photograph by Daniel Oberbillig

Sources: http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/content-home/facts-and-figures/geography.html?type=1, , https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html

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Geography/ Climate• Temperate and Marine Climate in the region; cool, cloudy,

wet winters and summers ; Occasional mountain (foehn) wind.

• From the North Sea to the Baltic Sea in the North to the Alps in the South, Germany is structured geographically as follows: the North German lowlands, the Mittelgebirge ridge, the Southwest German subdued mountains and terraced landscape, the South German piedmont and the Bavarian Alps

Population • 80,996,685 est. July 2014

Large Cities and Population (2011)• Berlin : 3.462 Million

• Hamburg: 1.796 Million• Munich: 1.364 Million• Cologne: 1.006 Million

Climate map of Germany (stockmodium.com)

Image of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Colonge courtesy of Google Images

Sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html), http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/content-home/facts-and-figures/geography.html?type=1

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CultureInternet Domain for Germany is (.de)

Major Language is German (official)• There are many different dialects specifically Lower Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, and Upper

Sorbian which are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Main Cultural Activities and Holidays• New Years• Good Friday• Easter• Pentecost• Labor Day • Oktoberfest• Christmas

Other• Feast of Corpus Christi• All Saints Day• Lutheran observe Reformation Day• Repentance and Prayer Day

Images from left: Oktoberfest Munich, Germany, and Christmas event courtesy of Google Images

Sources: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html, http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Germans.html

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Quality of Life IndicatorsLife Expectancy In total population is 80.44 Years• Male : 78.15 years• Female : 82.86 years

Literacy: • Age 15 and over can read and write• Total Population : 99%• Male : 99%• Female 99%

German School Boys (1947) Courtesy of Flicker.com by Charles Forker.

Sources : https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bt.html

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Rationale for My Choice

My Husband and I have both grown up with our German- American traditions. Because I grew in a small town with many German decedents, we have always tried to keep traditions alive through the generations. The town we live in is Boerne, TX located about 35 miles north of San Antonio, TX. It was founded by German immigrants who were in need of land and a new home. Traditions that I have celebrated through the years are Oktoberfest, blood sausage, Oma’s fair, and many other events. In fact, at home we still speak some German (low German). I have always wanted to know more about the country that my ancestors came from, as well as, getting to know more about the culture prior to our trip next year.

Opa : Roland Lux

Oma : Florence Lux (Fischer)

Historical Boerne, TX

Historical Boerne, TX. Photo Courtesy of littlecolony.com

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General Economic Conditions• GDP: 3.635 Trillion

• Export/Import 51.79% of GDP

• Largest field of employment is the small and medium enterprises in manufacturing, which employs about 25 million people in Germany

Unemployment rate: Total 5%• For men 5.4%• For woman 4.6%

• Inflation rate: .80% as of October 2014

Sources : http://www.tradingeconomics.com/germany/gdp, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS, http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/economy/main-content-06/strong-sectors-in-industry-and-service-providers.html, http://www.tradingeconomics.com/germany/inflation-cpi

Country –Specific Business Conditions

Milestone Two

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LiteratureInternational Frankfurt Book Fair, which is

held every October, is still the international pub lishing world’s most important meeting,

while the smaller Leipzig Book fair in the spring has also made a name for itself as

reading festival for the general public.

Classical MusicComposers such as Johannes Brahms,

Wagner, Beethoven, and Bach are among some of the classical music legends in

Germany.

Photo of Beethoven, provided by Google Images

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Folk CultureReligion – Roman Catholic, Evangelical (Protestant) , and Jewish

Music- Traditional German folk songs, or “Volkslieder,” celebrate the political, economic, religious and natural history of Germany, German culture and German values.

Diet – Bread is eaten with every meal, usually hottest meal is taken at mid-day. Main meat eaten is pork in form of wurst, or sausage. Very particular about potatoes but vary on what type depending on region.

Dress- Traditional German dress for men is short, leather trousers, known as lederhosen, with braces or suspenders and long socks, while for women, dirndl dresses--consisting of a bodice, blouse, full skirt and apron--are traditional.

Holidays - Oktoberfest--which, paradoxically, starts in September--Germanfest and Strassenfest. German-American Day, which celebrates the contribution of Germans and German-Americans to the American way of life is held in the United States on October 6 each year.

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Social CultureAccording to Hofstede Centre• Power Distance – Low score, very decentralized• Individualism – High Score , a strong belief of self actualization• Uncertainty Avoidance – High Score, avoid uncertain situations

and rely on expertise• Masculine society based on being the best or being defined as

winners• Pragmatism- high score, easily adapt traditions to change• Indulgence – Low score, restrained in nature with a tendency to

cynicism and pessimism

The Social Culture of Germany provides many aspects that may or may not affect business conditions. According to Facts about Germany, woman are up and coming. This may start a different atmosphere all together when it comes to business deals with certain countries who can not relate to a female in the work place. Other aspects include non-verbal communication, which is similar to that of the U.S with direct eye contact being just one of the few things that is considered respectful in German culture.

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Financial Infrastructure

• Currency – German Mark• $1 USD = $1.577 German Mark

• Central Bank – Deutsche Bundesbank

• The banking sector in Germany comprises of approximately 2 400 separate banks

• Frankfurt Stock Exchange is the leasing exchange in Germany

• Germany79.9% of Debt owed to World Bank

German Mark photo provided by Google Images

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Financial/ Legal Environment for Business

Laws –Taxes of major concern include the municipal trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) and the value added tax (Mehrwertsteuer), plus the income tax, solidarity surcharge and church tax of your employees You also may be subject to the Corporate Tax (Körperschaftsteuer) if your business is incorporated.

Requirements-It is suggested you get a German mediator who knows the community and regulation

Options – Contact Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for specifics on business types

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Physical Infrastructure

Germany has one of the world's most developed transportation and communication infrastructures. Intensive investment since reunification in 1990 has brought the undeveloped eastern Germany in line with that of western Germany. Transport and communications utilities in Germany have been liberalized following EU requirements. A dense and efficient network of motorways, railways, and waterways connects the country with major

Newspapers 11%

Radios 11%

TV11%

Cable11%

Mobile Phones a 11%

Fax a 11%

Personal Computers a

11%

Internet Hosts b 11%

Internet Users b 11%

Chart Title

ReferencesCentral Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

"Countries and Their Cultures." Germans. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Encyclopedia of the Nations." Germany Infrastructure, Power, and Communications, Information about Infrastructure, Power, and Communications in Germany. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)." Data. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"German Commercial Banks." German Commercial Banks. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. "German Folk Culture." EHow. Demand Media, 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.

"Germany GDP 1970-2014 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast | News." Germany GDP. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. "Germany Inflation Rate 1950-2014 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast." Germany Inflation Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Home | Setting up a Business: BMWi Entrepreneur Portal." Home | Setting up a Business: BMWi Entrepreneur Portal. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"List of National Debt by Country." Economics Help. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Picture Gallery." Facts about Germany: Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.

"Picture Gallery." Facts about Germany: Strong Sectors in Industry and Service Providers. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. "Setting Up a Business in Germany." How To Germany -. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.