PAngV is the abbreviation for Preisangabenverordnung. This is a law in Germany that came into effect in 1985.

It governs factors of consumer life, such as ensuring that the prices in supermarkets and restaurants include tax (MwSt), unlike in some other parts of Europe.  For web-based shops, this can mean stating whether or not a price includes tax, because the shop may not necessarily be targeted at consumers.  Business prices often to not include MwSt.

Another example of this law would be the finance rates at the bank or on a credit card, which have to be displayed in a particular way.

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This podcast is intended to be a guide for foreign visitors to Germany, and does not constitute legally binding advice.

ppa is an abbreviation for the Latin “per procura”, which translates into “in Vollmacht” in Germany.  In English, one might say “on behalf of”.

Whilst it is common in English-speaking countries to see a letter signed with “p.p.” by a secretary, in Germany the letters ppa are used in front of the signature of a person in the company who holds the title of “Prokurist”.  This is usually someone who represents the management, eg. in a limited company (GmbH).

The Prokurist can approve payments, and many other things that are normally only carried out by the highest management.  What he or she can do exactly, is usually agreed in a special contract.  eg. represent the company in court or hire and fire employees.

Other common abbreviations are i.V. (in Vollmacht) and i.A. (im Auftrag), which are used by normal employees to show which role they have in signing a document.  i.A. is the most common, one example of usage being a simple letter to a customer.

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“Teuro” was selected by the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache as the “Wort des Jahres” (Word of the Year) in 2002.

Teuro is a so-called “Portmanteau” and is made up of the words “teuer” (expensive) and “Euro”.

It refers to the feeling that people have in Germany that things became more expensive after the Euro was introduced at the beginning of 2002.

Part of the problem is caused by people dividing by 2, whereas the exact exchange rate was 1.95583.  But in many areas – eating out being one of the most common examples – the prices were noticed to have gone up considerably.  It is often commented, that the prices were almost the same figures in Euro as in DM – just with a different currency sign.

Another factor is that price rises since 2002 go much faster, as increasing a price by 1EUR is a lot more than increasing by 1DM.

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“Das alte Europa” was selected by the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache as the “Wort des Jahres” (Word of the Year) in 2003.

Das alte Europa (“old Europe”) was a phrase used by Donald Rumsfeld in reference to the countries France and Germany who were against the war in Iraq at the time.

Today it can refer to Western Europe to distinguish it from the Central or Eastern European countries.

The phrase was also used by Karl Marx to refer a Europe with a ruling elite – as was the case in most countries in the 19th Century.

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