Does Germany have many problems? Most of these problems share a common cause: bureaucracy. A thicket of well-intentioned laws, superfluous regulations, and antiquated administrative practices is hindering the country's development and even endangering democracy. Patrick Bernau uses numerous examples from the everyday lives of people and businesses to expose the problem—a book with the potential to provoke outrage, but which also occasionally offers a chuckle. Trains are becoming increasingly unreliable, not enough housing is being built, and German companies are groaning under the weight of excessive reporting requirements. Doctors spend three hours a day on paperwork instead of providing intensive care and treatment to their patients. Rural women are no longer allowed to sell cakes after 48 years. And even federal ministers are thwarted by the state's complicated rules. A system that was once intended to prevent inefficiency and corruption is now paralyzing the entire country. This book documents the absurd excesses of Germany's regulatory zeal, analyzes their underlying causes, and shows ways in which we can escape the bureaucratic trap before it's too late. Patrick Bernau, a graduate economist, is the business editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAZ). He analyzes stock markets and economic researchers for the newspaper. He regularly blogs on "Fazit," the FAZ's business blog, and is an active Twitter user. New product