Bliss English Club

<Recap of “The Economist Reading” by Ellen Huang on May1 9, 2018

Date: May 19, 2018

Host: Ellen Huang

Participants: Tommy, Sandy, Emma, Jimmy, Claus, Steve, Emily, Vicky, Barkley,Carmelo,Chris,Mike, Antonio, Annie, Selina, Ellen Huang

Meeting photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zr3ZInXRczkPCGfV20519

Q-queen, Ellen Huang

Well-known in asking acute ad pinpointed questions, our Question-Queen, Ellen Huang conducted the meeting thoroughly and efficiently as her agenda. Believe me or not, she will easily catch you before you “escape”!

International Forum in Bliss

The participants shared different backgrounds of all walks and various countries such as Singapore, Japan, Germany, to name just a few, which made the discussion diversified and noteworthy!

All in all, her guidance, all the participants’ feedbacks, followed by the group discussion help illustrating the reading as follows: 

Ampelmann: traffic light little man, key symbol in the article-

Originated in East Germany, with two signs of “green and red”, indicating the current political situation of Germany choosing either “to go “ahead with Mrs. Merkel or “to stop” here!

1. Approaches and Impacts on Demographic issue: Japan vs. Germany

Japan: preserving its own culture and pure blood, so as to be resistant to immigration regulations, which leads to worse ageing problem and stagnant economy due to its high cost of living , older marriage age, fewer birth rate and others

 Germany: emphasizing on more civic than ethnic state of immigrants, which will bring in mixed culture in trade of more sufficient labor force, natural resources, powerful leverage power against U.S. although with cost of losing some of their distinctive ethnic and cultural homogeneity traits.

2. Observations on New Germany vs. Traditonal one
1. Mrs. Merkel’s Bigger country outlook: take more responsibilities in economic affairs of EU am more diplomatic engagement in North Africa, Ukraine and Turkey

2. New Education Trend: More schools offer international course and issue Bachelor, Master Degrees instead of previous diplomas which have helped building up German professions and accordingly resulting in additional financial burden in each state due to State-tuition-free ‘professional students’ ! Thanks to the new trend, it will be supposed to reduce the educational expenditure of each state and be more accessible for global talents.

3. Mrs. Merkel’s Lower retirement age:

Based on their strong industrial background and stably prosperous economy, the policy will lessen ageing problem by offering younger people more job opportunities, implementing social judges and democratic system.

4. Reasons for Mrs. Merkel’s true borders to North Africa, Ukraine and Turkey
1. Economic/political-wise concern: trade in natural resources, labor force and win the lead ship.
2. Enlarge its own responsibilities on these indebted and lessen refugee-migrating problem

5. Punch its weight in international diplomacy

No. most Germans still believe in ethnic and cultural homogeneity, conformist and conservative society because most of contribution of its trade surplus comes from rural not urban regions.

6. a small-country outlook

Yes. Although as a strongest entity with trade surplus in Eu or of the whole world, Germany likes to be shaded under “Big Countries” such as USA, England or France, not bearing equal responsibilities as its economic and political powers.

Reflections:

Short as it may be, the meeting appeared high- quality and comprehensive ever which benefits all the participants and convince them –“Heavy” reading in Bliss is “Never dull” but rewarding!

Please remember to book your seat right after Q-Queen announces the date of “The Economist Reading” next time! Stay tune with Bliss!

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