Many in struggling countries across the eurozone envy Germany 's strong economy . German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been a staunch supporter of austerity measures to reduce public spending and boost growth since taking office last year. Schelkle : Germany 's beggar-my-neighbor policies also hurt the country 's own people . But if Germany still pursues beggar-thy-neighbor policies in order to create more jobs , the hard work is on average now just less well-paid work , and the savings are disproportionately enriching firms , then perhaps even Germans will see that something is wrong , and that continuing to behave like a successful emerging market is not a model for the rest of the Eurozone , not only because it beggars-the-neighbors but also because it does little for ordinary people in Germany . Germany has the highest share of low wage workers in Western Europe .
Many in struggling countries across the eurozone envy Germany 's strong economy . German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been a staunch supporter of austerity measures to reduce public spending and boost growth since taking office last year. Schelkle : Germany 's beggar-my-neighbor policies also hurt the country 's own people . Germany has the highest share of low wage workers in Western Europe .