This article aims two EU member countries (i.e. Portugal and Germany) from different regions in Europe which have, for decades, been following common strategies regarding HSR development. The authors discuss the economic profitability vs. political aims, which were related to rail modernization....

Immediately after its succession in 1930 the administration of Heinrich Brüning had to deal with many serious problems. In the economic sphere it had to cope with the Great Depression. Politically, Brüning's government was without the support of parliament, it could, however, rely on goodwill...

In 1928 was appointed the last coalition democratic government which aim was to deal with growing economic problems of the Weimar republic. The so called "Great coalition" failed to come to agreement on solution of the most important questions: social policy, fiscal policy, reparations and the...