Today didn't include the usual breathtaking vistas or world-class museum tours. It was just a normal day of class. We gathered at the Hertie School in the morning for a lecture and again in the afternoon at the BDI (Bundesverband der Deuschen Industrie or, in English, The Department for International Trade and Development.
Essentially, the BDI is an institutionalized lobby organization for German businesses. I thought the idea was very clever: bring in all the businesses and business interest groups, form committees and policy that must be approved by the BDI bureaucrats, and only that can be passed on as official recommendations to policymakers (members of parliament). It cuts down on individual businesses lobbying on an individual basis. It made the U.S. Dept. of Commerce or the National Chamber of Commerce look silly and unorganized.
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