Abstract
The proclamation of the German Empire in January 1871 is considered to be a central event in German history, with repercussions all over Europe. Moreover, with the North German Confederation of 1866/67, a federal state was already forming in northern Germany. This chapter addresses two questions from different angles, which can be grouped under four major headings. It addresses the dynamics of ...
Abstract
The proclamation of the German Empire in January 1871 is considered to be a central event in German history, with repercussions all over Europe. Moreover, with the North German Confederation of 1866/67, a federal state was already forming in northern Germany. This chapter addresses two questions from different angles, which can be grouped under four major headings. It addresses the dynamics of the German national movement, inter-governmental coordination of economic policy since the founding of the Zollverein, and the emergence of a national economic policy in the course of the founding of the North German Confederation and the Empire, respectively. The chapter examines the founding of the nation-state as a potential turning point both in terms of long-term economic development and with regard to central areas of economic policy. The economic implications of Empire’s federal structure become particularly obvious in comparison with national unification in Italy. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
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