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The article focuses on the new buying patterns in Germany. There are somewhat more than 17 million families in Western Germany and the trend is toward democracy in making family purchases. The latest studies indicate that the man may still have the deciding voice in the purchase of consumer durables but in general the views of both parents and of the older children are considered. Figures show that the larger purchases are jointly planned and made in nearly all families and some two-thirds of all married men and women make the buying decisions jointly. About four-fifths of all married men take their wives along when making what the husbands consider important purchases; only twofifths of the wives, however, take their husbands along, for instance when clothes shopping; the other three-fifths would rather take mother, daughter or woman friend. The average West German monthly net family income rose from $101 in 1953 to $145 in 1959 or 42%. Even more impressive is the growth of freely disposable income during this period. In 1953 the average West German family could do as it pleased with only 8% of its income, while 92% went for necessities.

Discusses a study by University of Munster professor Heinz Hartmann on enterprising women in Germany, published in the March-April 1970 issue of the 'Columbia Journal of World Business.' Challenges faced by women in business; Factors contributing to the success of women-owned business enterprises in the country; Types of defenses employed by business women against external pressures.

The article questions that is the United States being priced out of the world market. Since much public discussion has been carried on without objective analysis, some pertinent facts are presented. The index of export prices for the United States rose from 100 in the base year 1953 to 106 in 1959. All other countries except Great Britain and Canada experienced a steady growth with particularly sharp rises in 1959. Japan with a 1959 index of 280, Germany with 198 and Italy with 182 was especially outstanding. Assuming that exports have decreased because the prices in the U.S. have risen relative to foreign prices, the causes can be many. Between 1953 and June 1959 the index of U.S. wage rates rose from 100 to 127 while indices of all other major countries showed equal or greater rises. With various forms of government intervention such as subsidies, tariffs and quotas, materials are becoming more costly. High prices may also result from large overhead or insistence on high return on capital.

The article informs that 32 million out of the 55 million people in West Germany live in what are officially country townships. But the division into country and urban townships is fairly arbitrary; nearly 5 million of the 32 in the "country" live in towns of from 20,000 to 100,000 population. Again, many "urban" townships are places with less than 50,000 people. The 58% who live in country townships have about half the nation's purchasing power. In the small villages, farming occupies only a quarter of those gainfully employed, while nowadays one in five heads of village households is a skilled artisan workman or an artisan not self-employed. One study shows that refrigerators are owned by about 25% of dwellers in the country, by about 35% in small towns, by almost 40% in small cities, and 45% in big cities. On the other hand, 30% of country and 38% of small town residents own washing machines, whereas slightly fewer than 30% of families in small cities and 25% in big cities own these appliances.

The article presents a reference guide for investment. Names of publishers of books and the addresses of periodicals are provided to aid readers. Listings include only basic material, not news items or reports of transitory significance. "A Short History of American Foreign Policy and Diplomacy," by Samuel F. Bemis, is a revision of an earlier book, this includes up to date material on Russia, the United Nations, the Suez crisis and others. "Documents on American Foreign Relations," edited by Paul E. Zinner, includes copies of the major treaties, international agreements and communiques for the year 1958. In "Germany and the East-West Crisis: The Decisive Challenge to American Policy," by William S. Schlamm, economic and political developments, as well as the Communist threat, in Germany are analyzed.