SOCIO-CULTURAL
VALUES- "Germans are most comfortable when they can organize and
compartmentalize their world into controllable units. Time, therefore, is managed
carefully, and calendars, schedules and agendas must be respected."
Germans are stoic people who strive for perfectionism and precision in all aspects of
their lives. They do not admit faults, even jokingly, and rarely hand out compliments. At
first their attitude may seem unfriendly, but there is a keen sense of community and
social conscience and a desire to belong.
Livelihood
1. FORESTRY AND FISHING - Almost a third of Germany's total area is
covered by forest and although the country has been traditionally a net
importer of wood and wood products, it is a significant exporter as well.
2. MINING- Germany has a distinguished mining tradition, but the industry
has taken a minor role in the 1990s and is not able to meet the country's
growing needs for energy and raw materials. The chief mining products
are brown coal, or lignite, with total reserves at about 43 billion tons, and
24 billion tons of hard coal, or anthracite.
3. MANUFACTURING- The German manufacturing sector is large and
robust, with leading branches in chemical products and pharmaceuticals,
vehicles and transport equipment, metals and metal products, electrical
machinery, precision instruments, paper products, and processed foods.
Other products include cement and construction materials, optics,
electronics, ships, and textiles.
4. MOTOR VEHICLES- Germany is the world's third largest automobile
maker after the United States and Japan, and with nearly 730,000
employees and annual revenue of almost DM340 billion in 1999, the
automobile industry is a crucial economic player. The industry provides
markets for many related industries like machine tools, spare parts, tires,
plastics and paints, and metal processing. With all suppliers, automotive
services and retailers included, a total of about 5 million workers in the
country depend on the health of the automobile industry for their
livelihoods.
5. MACHINERY- In 1997, Germany accounted for nearly 20 percent of the
world's machinery exports (Japan was responsible for 16 percent and the
United States for 15.7 percent). In some products, like metallurgical plant
equipment, particularly rolling mills, paper and printing machines, and
woodworking machinery, German exports amounted to one-third of the
world total. With almost 6,500 factories in mechanical engineering,
German manufacturers have a reputation for customized machinery of
high quality.
6. CHEMICALS- 1996 Germany was the largest exporter of chemical
products in the world, with a share of 15.5 percent (the United States
accounted for 14.4 percent and Japan for 7.5 percent). Its chemical
industry, with its state-of-the-art technology, innovative products, and
emphasis on research, was represented by corporate giants such as
BASF, Bayer, and Hoechst, and by a multitude of small and medium-sized
firms.
7. ELECTRONICS- he electrical engineering and electronics industry, with
revenue of DM242 billion and nearly 850,000 employees (1997), is also
among the most research-intensive and innovative manufacturing sectors,
including makers of production plant
electronics, telecommunication systems, electronic components,
programmable controllers, medical systems for diagnosis and therapy,
household appliances, and others.
LIFESTYLE- Germany is a multicultural country although it has a homogenous
bearing. Customs and traditions of people of various backgrounds maintain their
distinct identity and so do foreigners residing there. German folk traditions are
much alive these days and the Germans believe in maintaining a globalised
outlook. The Germans are very fond of socializing and like to indulge in
interesting conversations. One can take part in several festivals that are
celebrated with great fervor all throughout the year. Lifestyle in German attracts
tourists from far and wide. Germany culture is rich and one has to simply
experience it to get feel of what it is live in Germany.
SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY- Germany has a total population of 80,996,685.
Their age structures are:
0-14 years: 13% (male
5,386,525/female 5,107,336)
15-24 years: 10.6% (male 4,367,713/female 4,188,566)
25-54 years: 41.7% (male 17,116,346/female 16,664,995)
55-64 years: 13.6% (male 5,463,221/female 5,574,166)
65 years and over: 21.1% (male 7,468,552/female 9,659,265)
Their dependency ratios are
Total dependency ratio: 52.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 19.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 %
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2014 est.)
Median age:
total: 46.1 years
male: 45.1 years
female: 47.2 years
population growth is -0.18%
Type of society- German society is a modern, open-minded society:
Most people are well-educated and enjoy a high standard of living,
as well as sufficient freedom to be able to plan their lives as they
themselves see fit. Nonetheless, like in other major industrial
nations, German society is facing the challenge of solving problems
of demographic trends, in particular the aging of society. Nor, 20
years after reunification, have the social consequences of the
division of Germany been fully overcome. In the course of
globalization Germany has taken a path that has made it a modern
immigrant society with increasingly ethnic cultural diversity, and has
increased its efforts to integrate the migrants in the nucleus of
society.
Culture- The greetings in this culture consist of the most common the
handshake. The man is to wait until tell women puts her hand out before
shaking it. Also crossing someone else's handshake is inappropriate. Some
gestures used in this culture are not chewing gum in public it is inappropriate.
Talking with your hands in your pockets is disrespectful. Instead of crossing the
fingers for good luck they simply squeeze their thumb. The dating in Germany
is different than that in the United States. They each pay for their own food and
entertainment unless a special occasion. Legal marriages are performed by
the city hall religious ones are optional. Young people may often live together
before or instead of marriage.
References: http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/en/society/main-content-08/germansociety-modern-pluralist-and-open-minded.html
http://www.indexmundi.com/germany/demographics_profile.html
http://www.livescience.com/44007-german-culture.html
http://www.visas2germany.com/immigration/lifestyle-in-germany
http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/02_03/Cul/Germany/germany.htm
