Germany's Economy, Once Europe's Engine, Is Holding It Back Germany’s export-oriented businesses have fared poorly in a post-pandemic world of broken supply chains and rising energy prices. The malaise is fueling a debate over whether the German economy needs a reboot and what it should look like. Germany’s export-oriented businesses have fared poorly in a post-pandemic world of broken supply chains and rising energy prices. The malaise is fueling a debate over whether the German economy needs a reboot and what it should look like.