The two men are not really alike. Okay, both of rather short stature, but one baroque corpulent, the other athletically sinewy. One was considered a South German-friendly soul, the other seems Hanseatic-sober, sometimes cool. Ludwig Erhard puffed on a cigar, non-smoker Olaf Scholz kept fit with rowing. They are sons of their respective times. But now one is imitating the other: Olaf Scholz wants to foment a second economic miracle in Germany – as Ludwig Erhard for the 21st century.

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