Germany replaces US as country with best international image

German here, living in the US. For the first time in 20 years I am seriously considering to move back. There are lots of things I do not like about Germany, but there is a sense of buying into a social contract that I am coming to appreciate more and more. I do not believe that the most knotty problems can be solved by increasing individual freedoms or simply making markets more efficient. They require some form of collective action and solidarity, which seems hard to imagine happening in the current political climate in the US.<p>[Edit] There is something quite surreal to see a discussion about Germany’s positive image for people my age and above. I couldn’t have imagined this even ten years ago.

As an American living in Berlin, it&#x27;s a striking feeling to live in a well-run country. It&#x27;s not perfect of course, but the feeling that the system works with you and for you (even as a foreigner) is a stark contradiction to the US.

Interesting. As the most die-hard German USA-fanboy one could have imagined, I can only say: since Trump, even I reconsidered my plan to move to Texas and currently plan to just stay here in my hometown Frankfurt, as there are currently no comparable options anywhere in the western world (maybe Canada, but then again I prefer to stay in multi-national EU if the diversity and sunny weather of the USA is currently not an option).<p>In those unstable times, we all feel the influx of money, ideas, people here. Some don‘t like change, but to me it all feels quite good.<p>Anyway, still hope to spend some years in the USA when the time is right.

Personal anecdote: When I was backpacking in Australia 10 years ago I felt I had a clear advantage over other backpackers because germans somehow have this image of being super productive and hard working. I more than once got a job just because I was from Germany.

Honestly I am surprised to see the US even in the Top10, people usually have nothing good to say about it for various reasons.

haha, often I think Germany isn&#x27;t that good and I should move, but then I look at other countries and have the feeling it only could get worse...<p>Warmer weather, but the economy is worse or the other way around.

&quot;The Nation Brands Index (NBI) survey, carried out by German-based market research firm GfK&quot;<p>Not hating the general premise, since I personally feel that Germany and the EU have taken the place of world leadership that the US previously occupied, but still &quot;Germany Marketing Company Declares Germany the Best Country&quot; would be a more accurate headline here.

I know this is such a Hacker News question, but is there a good place to gauge what good places in Germany also have solid internet speeds (100&#x2F;30)?<p>I’ve thought about moving there, too, but it’d be great to narrow the places in Germany down geographically with some data like this, especially with what I hear about the state of internet infrastructure there.

Right, my move-to countries are similar but our neighbors don&#x27;t come first for me. More like Scotland&#x2F;UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, US. But perhaps Germany is too similar to Austria so I don&#x27;t really see any real advantages in moving there, except slightly better job prospects, depending on the region.

<i>Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international broadcaster.</i>

Congratulations to those countries moving up.<p>Congratulations also to Americans, who feel their country is moving in a better direction.<p>May America be the best America it can be, and the same of Germany, Japan, etc.

TL;DR: Trump.<p>The US fell from first to sixth place in their study, since last year.

Germany makes greats products. I really enjoy using my Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher (egg opener, or more literally, &quot;egg shell pre-determined breaking point causer&quot;), very precise.

Diversity is Americas’ greatest strength and also its greatest weakness.

And it has never been so ridiculously easy.

In most of Europe, Germany has been seen as a solid, hard working nation for many years. If I had to use one word: efficiency above all.<p>But recently, with Merkel&#x27;s immigration policy (or ineptness?), the country is being overrun with North Africa immigrants, who are a drag on rich social care system, taking a lot out while not contributing their equal share back to it.<p>(Eastern Europe calls this process cultural enrichment, which is a clear sarcasm.)<p>I&#x27;m wondering about contrast between &quot;best international image&quot; and the perceived reality. Good marketing comes to mind.

In related news, Germany&#x27;s government, just like the U.S. government, seems to be <i>pro-coal</i> - so its image can&#x27;t be <i>that much better</i>?<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;environment&#x2F;2017&#x2F;nov&#x2F;16&#x2F;political-watershed-as-19-countries-pledge-to-phase-out-coal" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;environment&#x2F;2017&#x2F;nov&#x2F;16&#x2F;politica...</a>