[mattmanser]

Not entirely, as federal dollars pay for army bases, manufacturing projects, etc. across the country, resulting in significant redistribution of wealth.

The EU has far, far less tax income, and for the last 10 years been spending all that money on the new entrants instead of Greece, Spain or Italy as it did pre-EU27. (And I would argue of course they should spend the money there for the greatest good).

So there's no redistribution through tax, and Germany benefits from a much weaker currency, while struggling countries can't use currency controls to kick start their trade.