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by chironjit 1310 days ago
I think the issue is actually much worse than just making it harder for someone to start a company.

The primary issue i see with Germany are that the issues raised by the writer is not just limited to starting a company. It is EVERYWHERE.

The problem is that whether Germans realise or not, it profoundly affects them in many ways.

Because of the archaic system of doing things, everything takes time. You have to set aside time to do these things. Because of how bureaucratic every process is, each staff can only see a limited number of people.

You constantly have to refresh some archaic website to find a slot. Slots are usually all gone in an instant, and your luck depends on someone cancelling or maybe them adding an extra staff for that day.

Often, there is no way to submit applications online, even for things that may logically be better off being submitted online.

The problem i see is: 1) It affects everything, including healthcare. Waiting times for public healthcare, government support etc, are through the roof. 2) Often times, this time blowout issue is blamed on something else (such as refugees, etc). There may be some truth to it, but as an outsider I see how easy it feels to blame some hapless refugee than admitting that system was already at its seams prior. 3) This system disadvantages the less-well-off - being able to pay for it lets you buy your way out of the hassle. 4) Unfortunately, most Germans view this from some perspective of denial, helplessness while others get defensive when you argue about it.

1 comments

There’s also a lot of resistance to digitalization- for example I work with some government organizations (both federal and state) and they’d often require me to send some documents printed out and signed in the post. There is absolutely no reason why in the 21st century you shouldn’t be able to accept email documents digitally signed instead.
That’s what I meant with digital services being a decade behind here. I attribute it to extreme conservatism to preserve jobs that aren’t in fact necessary. Bureaucracy is incapable of seeing beyond itself, just like so many other areas are as well.