Their goods would also be subject to EU tariffs depending on how trade talks go and the EU accounts for ~50% of UK trade iirc. So it's still very up in the air.

Yes the whole QE of the EURO by the ECB has been most dramatic and artificially kept the EURO competitive for the export market over the import market.

That's one ticking time-bomb that they keep resetting with new QE initiatives, that will have to end soon and suspect BREXIT will offer a wonderful scapegoat opportunity that may well be availed.

[EDIT ADD} Nice article highlighting the QE situation: https://www.ft.com/content/e4964f08-f196-11e9-ad1e-4367d8281...

Also worth noting that negative interest rates seem to be the new tool that will replace/augment QE. Which may just work, though once again, perpetuating a mindset that borrowing over saving mentality in a way that whole generations will become saving avert. More so if/when negative interest rates take traction.

In part, it has to do with the fact that many items made in Germany are of high quality. Most goods that are sold in U.S. for instance, are made in China. Often times these goods simply fall apart (dishwashers, washing machines), are defective, or have toxic odors (like full-color books). Not so for things made in the U.S. or Europe, and it just so happens that there are a great many things that Germany makes now, where they are the only high-quality source.

Can't be so bad for innovation if they're ranking first in this classification: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-18/germany-b...

As an Austrian sharing some history with Germany and always looking suspiciously what is going on there, I have been multiple times astonished by my fellow neighbors:

Productivity: They work hard, a lot and deliver.

Education: above average and leaning towards being curious

Conservativism: depends on county but is a thing

Innovation: despite conservtivism inmovation is high

Collaboration and criticism: Even though you might be in strong disagree with someone arguments count and once you quickly talked out the differences, intense collaboration towards goal achievemt is obvious.

I worked for 10+ years in continuing education and had students of all age and all infustrial sectors and these have been common shared characterstics.

Favorable characterstics towards success I would say.

(Edited formating)

Quest over! If you're actually interested in understanding the reasons for Brexit and you should before making such comments, try this https://briefingsforbrexit.com. Not recommended for those with a short attention span.

"Briefings for Brexit is a small group of volunteers, mainly academics, who set up the website in 2017 in order to provide reasoned factual material to help to inform the national debate on Brexit. Most of its members did not previously know each other. The two co-editors are Graham Gudgin and Robert Tombs, both of Cambridge University. Its contributors come from a range of academic disciplines and universities, and cover the whole political spectrum: their names can be found on our website. The group has no links with any political party. Neither of the editors receives any payment, not do any of the contributors. The newsletter editor, a student, receives a small payment. Briefings for Brexit is entirely funded by well-wishers."

Brits never experienced the tangible benefits of EU membership because they actively excluded themselves from both Schengen and the Euro. It's not really surprising that many reject something that is only an abstract macroeconomic set of rules to them.

Contrast this with public opinion in Germany back before the common currency: most German EU supporters were openly afraid that the Euro could seriously endanger their economy, but they considered it well worth the risk just for complementing the convenience of open borders with an end to the hassle of dealing with foreign currencies.

To anyone with a bit of critical thinking ability, macroeconomic decisions are close to a coin toss: both sides have good arguments and nobody has convincing data to back up their claim (if there was there wouldn't be a decision to be made).

There are winners and losers to having a strong currency. It isn't inherently a bad thing to make the currency less valuable.