The Federal Republic of Germany's exports in 1980 represented approximately 23% of GNP. Germany's share of total world exports, however, declined throughout the seventies. What are the factors influencing German export performance? What is the outlook for the future?

In some countries a Paasche price index based on unit values is compiled as a proxy for a true Paasche (or Laspeyres) price index on the basis of prices. This is for example the case in German foreign trade statistics. Unit values are average prices referring to a 'commodity number' (CN), that...