一些德国公司说服员工接受减薪以助抵御金融危机，但南欧外围国家的工资一直在稳步上升，甚至在生产率停滞不前时也照涨不误。
Whereas some German companies persuaded workers to accept wage cuts to help weather the financial crisis, wages across the southern periphery have been marching steadily upwards, even as productivity has remained stagnant.