• Sozialemarktwirtschaft (the Social Market Economy).
• Framework regulation
• High competitiveness w/ social benefits
• Conservative monetary policy through the Bundesbank: a stable, strong DM
• The Welfare State
• Class Alliances (big & small business, finance, and labor).
• "Strong Parties (CDU-CSU/FDP/SPD)
• The 5 percent rule
• PR list voting w/ single-member district balloting
• No ideological polarization

• Federal policymaking structure (graphic)
• Strong "Peak" Associations
• Chambers of industry, labor confederations (IG Metall), work councils
• Mitbestimmung (co-determination)

"External rigidity with internal flexibility."