• Integration of two systems: unification of the two Germanys meant converting a former command economy to the social market economy of the former West Germany. This has involved privatization of state-owned companies and the injection of capital in order to make them internationally competitive, largescale investment by the government to redress social inequalities, and changes in mindset towards international integration and away from an inward-looking domestic market positioning (Blum, 1994; Lawrence, 1994). This has created a number of tensions and issues that will be looked at later.