The differences between our economies are more complex than you've suggested. Differences between the UK and Germany: * Unions are very weak in the UK compare

The differences between our economies are more complex than you've suggested. Differences between the UK and Germany: * Unions are very weak in the UK compared to Germany. Union reps sit on boards of major German companies, negotiate wages that get workers a better deal * Germany's infamous mittelstand provides good technical jobs when compared to the UK which depends heavily on an unstable banking sector to bring in tax revenue * Germany doesn't have the same crippling real estate market as the UK and has stronger tenants rights, long leases when renting * Germany's benefits system is much more generous than the UK's