U.S. manufacturing lost 4 million jobs over past 10 years , accounts for only 12 % of GDP . Writers : Germany recovered quickly from the economic crisis by keeping its skilled labor alive . German industry is 25 % of its GDP , they say , and rely on high - quality literature . Consider U.S. trade policies , which undermined America 's working class through the outsourcing and offshoring of U.S. manufacturing and the erosion of labor protections . Writers : German industry has unions , offers high wages and is its most successful sector .
U.S. manufacturing lost 4 million jobs over past 10 years , accounts for only 12 % of GDP . Writers : Germany recovered quickly from the economic crisis by keeping its skilled labor alive . German industry is 25 % of its GDP , they say , and rely on high - quality literature . Writers : German industry has unions , offers high wages and is its most successful sector .