Depends on your definition of "smart". Germany undercut and closed down most factories from around Europe. Ask anyone you know in the EU, they'll tell you how t

Depends on your definition of "smart". Germany undercut and closed down most factories from around Europe. Ask anyone you know in the EU, they'll tell you how things were going well in the 70s and how their country actually had a lot of manufacturing plants for electrical and mechanical equipment (fridges, car parts, machinery etc). Then, near the 70s, globalization hit hard. It was still cheaper to produce locally, but German lobbies knew well that if they sold below cost, bribed government officials and pushed strong advertising campaigns , they'd manage to shut down the industry of Europe and make everyone reliant on their production. Was it "smart"? I guess so, they fucked over everyone in Europe, and still do (the Euro was obviously the deathblow for South Europe and much of the East). But this has nothing to do with "working smart". If you visit germany you'll realize that the image of the hard-working, incorruptable, efficient German is just a lie.