I'd read somewhere a hypothesis that Germany would've done better to have just kept the peace and (at least by pre-1914 growth paths) outcompeted the British ec

I'd read somewhere a hypothesis that Germany would've done better to have just kept the peace and (at least by pre-1914 growth paths) outcompeted the British economy. I guess (a) people at that time thought growth wasn't possible without colonies, and (b) people in all times seem to lose any commitment they might have had to free trade once a serious economic competitor emerges?