> My wife (who is German) says that one factor is German history (nazis and the stasi), which makes people distrust any kind of central (digital) administration

> My wife (who is German) says that one factor is German history (nazis and the stasi), which makes people distrust any kind of central (digital) administration. So all databases are uncoupled from eachother, people prefer cash, etc. True. > Another thing that is really stifling in Germany is the hierarchy, there is so much formalistic bullshit around company/government/... hierarchies. I experienced this a lot when working with the university administration (I was a researcher/lecturer at a German university). No one dares to make choices that can have some impact, afraid that higher-ups, the court, or whatever will punish them for making the wrong choice. So they hide behind rules and necessary decisions are not made/postponed. Almost no one stands up to their leadership, so even they have wrong ideas, there is rarely any counterbalance. This depends a lot on the company, and is something that you, in my experience, mostly experience at big companies, government-run companies and government agencies (this includes university administrations, even though at many faculties, things are completely fine (even many professors prefer to keep away from the university administration as far as it is possible in their job)). So, if you really don't like this, attempt to look for a smaller company as your employer and/or find a job in the private sector.