Port of Hamburg, spy balloon, merger with Russia, conflict with Taiwan: China is fueling the scepticism of its economic partners all by itself, say some. The China bashing is exaggerated, say others. But one thing is certain: China's strategy is not leaving Germany unscathed. Can things continue as they are? Is decoupling the answer? And what would the "golden mean" look like? Three scenarios with Martin Hammer.

Christmas and the turn of the year are a time for reflection. The last few years have been demanding for all of us in many respects, both in business and in our private lives. We would like to thank you, dear readers, dear business partners and especially our experts, our colleagues and our editors for your continued support and the always high level of interest in our interviews, professional articles and podcasts.

2022 was a difficult year for many companies. While the Corona pandemic in the form of fragile supply chains has not quite been overcome even after almost three years, galloping energy costs, rising interest rates and a threatening shortage of staff are creating new, additional risk factors. An interview with Martin Hammer and Uwe Köstens about the current situation, the outlook for 2023 and why restructuring experts are often "buzzkills".

It's not technically that far yet, but it shouldn't be long before Germany is "officially" in a recession. According to many economists, the country is facing a major wave of bankruptcies. Young, innovative companies in particular are acutely threatened by a lack of reserves, high energy prices and the slump in demand. But does this forecast stand up to closer scrutiny?

Mergers and acquisitions are always a difficult task. When they take place on an international level between several countries, all with a different business approach, the shovel becomes much wider. What skills are needed to handle the task professionally? And looking at current Franco-German relations: Does M&A have what it takes to positively influence the economies and politics of both countries? A conversation with Ian Kayanakis, Managing Partner France, and Head of Corporate M&A at enomyc.

From SAP Hana to Scams: Almost everything is involved. New means, such as digital transformation, but also new challenges, such as cyber attacks, do not leave the role of CFOs cold. Will the CFOs of the future have an additional mandate? Will they also need cutting-edge digital skills? Or even a split of their role? Markus Oberndorfer, director at enomyc, talks about this.

We are in the midst of the energy crisis, watching prices skyrocket and the recession is already upon us. The rule for companies is that they must pass on the increased factor costs to the market, but at the same time radically reduce their costs. What should be the primary focus now? What options are available to companies, and which areas of the company are crucial for overcoming the crisis?

The energy crisis, skyrocketing raw material prices, disrupted supply chains and a chronic shortage of skilled workers are presenting the German automotive and supplier industry with unprecedented challenges. Small and medium-sized suppliers specializing in combustion engine drive components, chassis and C-parts in particular must fear for their future.

Cheap gas, cheap living, cheap money: A large proportion of Germans are only used to growth and prosperity. Boomers helped build the prosperous state, millennials were born into it. And now? The fat years seem to be over. The familiar formula - higher, faster, further - no longer works. What are the new parameters for growth and prosperity? And how should we respond to them? A conversation with Martin Hammer.

While many are still on holiday or have just returned nicely refreshed, the buyers of the large car manufacturers and their "opponents", the sales professionals of the suppliers, have long been warming up for the upcoming price negotiations. This year, the talks are likely to be particularly difficult because many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are in deep water. However, giving up is not an option.

Since then, our editors have conducted more than 30 expert interviews in which experienced industry experts have shared their insights. These include Rita Herbers from Hamburger Volksbank, economist and psychotherapist Bessie Fischer-Bohn, Holger Rabelt from Commerzbank AG and many more. To mark our third anniversary, we have put together a selection for your summer reading in the form of our Editor's Pick: Reading highlights that have been particularly well received.