1990年代以來，德國在內外環境變遷的衝擊下，曝露了經濟面結構性問題，每人GDP自2000年後為歐盟各國超越。2003年不僅經濟成長陷 入衰退，且財政赤字與失業率均達1991年以來的高峰。經過1990年代下半期以來，德國政府陸續推動有關降低所得稅、調整稅率結構、鬆綁勞 動市場規定、鼓勵企業創造非全時就業機會，以及檢討社會安全制度、刪減福利救濟金等，終於在2006年舉辦世界杯足球賽後，有「歐洲病夫 」稱呼之德國，經濟終於全面復甦，投資回升、失業率與財政赤字持續改善、企業與消費者信心回穩。

In the 1990s, the German economy began to experience structural problems caused by the shock of changes in the internal and external environments, and after 2000 its per capita GDP started slipping behind that of other EU members. In 2003, its economy not only slumped into recession, but it also experienced the highest levels of fiscal deficit and unemployment since 1991. Since the mid-1990s, the federal government has responded with such measures as cutting income tax, restructuring taxation, deregulating the labor market, encouraging mini (part-time) job creation, reviewing the social security system, and reducing social benefits spending. The so-called "sick man of Europe" finally entered a broad-based economic recovery in 2006, after hosting the FIFA World Cup, with investment rising, unemployment and the fiscal deficit consistently improving, and business and consumer confidence returning.