Guest Columns
Our Guests
Climate protection is the only answer
Torsten Nehls, Managing Director of BE Group (alternative: Belle Époque Gesellschaft für behutsame Stadterneuerung mbH) Architects, construction companies, property developers, and global manufacturers have all joined forces in pursuit of a single go Read more
19 Jan 2023
Why Russian gas could disrupt Germany’s plan for a bolder climate agenda
After 16 years under conservative Angela Merkel, Germany gained new leadership late last year. Following a “climate election” that saw the issue surpass COVID-19 as voters’ top concern, Europe’s largest economy is now ruled by a progressive three-par Read more
24 Mar 2022
ABBA Strategy: A selective approach for attractive office investments
Seeking out low-risk assets, the majority of investors are continuing to make a bee-line for office properties in the prime locations of the biggest German cities. The downside: astronomical price levels, low yields and intense competition. Read more
7 Mar 2022
Why targeting the 60+ age group is an attractive proposition for landlords
As is the case in many other western societies, the German population is becoming increasingly older. Today, the over-60s already make up a quarter of Germany's population, and current estimates predict this share to rise to more than one third by 20 Read more
7 Jan 2022
Germany’s new government: what the world can expect in a post-Merkel era
Leaders of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberals (FDP) have reached a deal on their coalition agreement for government, paving the way for a new administration to replace that of Angela Merkel. Read more
29 Nov 2021
REFIRE in discussion with: Frank Talmon l’Armée, CEO, SEMODU AG
REFIRE: What is SEMODU and what do you do? Frank Talmon l’Armée: We are the industry leader in modular construction but we have a number of different business lines. We focus on classic modular building and project development, then there are... Read more
29 Nov 2021
Merkel’s caution has made Germany the great economic underachiever of our times
Germans are taking to the polls on September 26 to elect the members for the 20th Bundestag. For the first time in 16 years, there will be a new chancellor as Angela Merkel steps down. Germany has been through some enormous challenges during her... Read more
25 Sep 2021
German election: continuing popularity of far-right AfD has roots in east-west divide
Sunday’s parliamentary election in Germany will see Angela Merkel’s 16-year stint as chancellor come to an end. She was the first person from the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to rise to the post. The performance of the populist... Read more
25 Sep 2021
German election explained: why is it always so hard to form a government?
It is quite unusual for the two largest parties in a given country to form a coalition. In the UK, it took the second world war to bring such a grand coalition about. Read more
25 Sep 2021
Angela Merkel: gentle persuasion in an age of populism
“Now she is all alone.” Former president Barack Obama slightly squinted and bit his lip in characteristic fashion as he spoke these words to his adviser. Obama had spent three hours alone with Angela Merkel in Hotel Adelon in Berlin. It was late... Read more
23 Sep 2021