(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The overwhelming majority of people in Germany have not seen the rewards of a much-touted financial recovery, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 83 per cent of respondents think the country’s recent economic expansion has not yielded any benefits for themselves, their friends or their relatives.

In November 2005, Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel was sworn in as Germany’s first female head of government. The current administration includes members of the CDU, the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Germany’s economy—the largest in Europe—expanded by 2.9 per cent in 2006, the largest level in six years, and is forecast by the government to grow 2.4 per cent this year.

Earlier this month, Merkel said the country has "regained its economic strength" as she issued her report on the government’s budget. The chancellor added that Germany’s "international competitiveness" is on the rise and fewer and fewer people should be "worried about their jobs", adding, "The recovery is making itself felt among ordinary citizens."

Polling Data

Do you think Germany’s economic expansion has yielded benefits for yourself, your friends and your relatives?

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Interviews with 1,005 German adults, conducted on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, 2007. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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