Despite the energy crisis, record inflation and supply chain problems, the German economy grew by almost 2 percent in real terms last year.

After all the bad news in 2022 and the warnings of the biggest economic crisis since the Second World War, this is a very impressive result - and good news for prosperity in Germany.

Johannes Pennekamp

Responsible editor for business reporting.

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Because despite all the criticism of gross domestic product as an indicator of prosperity, it is particularly evident in times of crisis: A functioning and growing economy is the prerequisite for much of what makes life better.

Thanks to the robust economy, more people than ever before had jobs and earned their own money in Germany in 2022.

Despite the sharp rise in energy and food prices, they could afford to go shopping and go on vacation significantly more again.

Thanks to the good economy and the associated tax revenue, the state also had the opportunity to make the financial consequences of the crisis more bearable for the citizens - and without getting into trouble.

And the prospects are not as bad as some think.

The latest figures suggest that the economy did not contract at the end of the year either.

A noticeable recession seems to have been averted for the time being.

And the warnings of a "deindustrialization of Germany" are alarmist and come above all from those who want (even) more financial support from politicians.

It is now important that Germany comes out of crisis mode in the current year.

Before the pandemic, the economy benefited from its strong export sector.

Recently, however, foreign trade has acted as a brake on the economy, since imports have grown faster than exports.

That has to change again, because you can't rely solely on the consumption of the citizens and the expenditure of the state.

The federal government must not be blinded by the good numbers.

She, too, has to switch from crisis management to doer mode.

Faster planning processes, a secure and affordable energy supply and less bureaucracy are needed.

Far too little of the many announcements is still visible.