Sewing of Deutsche Bank warns about the economic crisis in Germany and calls for more labor effort.

In a recent conference in Frankfurt, Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank, expressed his concern about the current economic situation in Germany and urged Germans to increase their work efforts. He stated that investor doubts regarding Germany's and Europe's ability to meet economic targets are on the rise. According to Sewing, it is essential for the nation to regain the competitiveness that has characterized its economy in the past. "Investors have been telling us for over a year that they doubt Germany's and Europe's ability to meet targets and, even worse, the desire to meet those targets," Sewing commented. These words reflect a growing sentiment among market players about the stability of the German economy, which has historically been the strongest within the European Union. However, in recent months, the situation has begun to generate concern. The timing of Sewing's statements is significant, as they come right after a reported contraction of 0.1% in Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter. This figure has led many analysts to question the country's economic direction, which has seen GDP declines in four of the last seven quarters. Despite managing to avoid a technical recession, the German economy has not been able to sustain consistent growth, raising alarms in both the private and public sectors. Sewing emphasized the need for Germans to work with the same intensity as the EU average, suggesting that greater dedication could help reverse the trend of economic slowdown. "We simply have to tell our fellow citizens that we need to do more again," insisted the CEO. With this, Sewing seems to point to a lack of collective effort that, according to him, has translated into discouraging economic results. The concern about the performance of the German economy is not unfounded. In recent years, factors such as the energy crisis stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rising production costs, and supply chain disruptions have severely affected various industries. Adding to this are geopolitical tensions and global uncertainties that have also impacted other European countries. However, some criticize Sewing's stance, arguing that a call to work more is not enough to address the complexities facing the German economy. Economists argue that it is necessary to implement policies that promote innovation, investment, and workforce training, as well as reform the tax system to adapt to the new market challenges. Moreover, many workers have pointed out that they are already under intense work pressure, and simply increasing working hours will not necessarily translate into better economic performance. The question lies in how Germans can work more effectively, not just longer hours. In this sense, productivity and the quality of work become key factors. The response from the government and economic institutions will be crucial in the coming months. While Sewing has called for action, it will be essential for his recommendations to translate into concrete policies that allow Germany not only to recover but also to strengthen its position in the European and international context. The challenge is considerable, but the resilience of the German economy is undeniable. Ultimately, the call to work more can be seen as a symptom of a deeper crisis of confidence in the institutions' ability to face current economic challenges. Without a strategic approach that considers both increasing the workload and improving working and living conditions, Germany could face an uncertain future in which investor distrust becomes an even greater obstacle to its economic recovery.