Banks have been caught napping while fintech firms revolutionize the financial sector. Customers can open an account, apply for loans and make payments via their smartphone. Now banks are turning to the newcomers for help.

From web designers to painters to musicians, the creative economy in Germany is very diverse. They’re all passionately committed to their art and their work. But some find it difficult to make ends meet.

Investor Matthias Weik believes the eurozone will fall apart in 2017! He says Greece will not benefit from further bailouts, and that its debts will inevitably have to be written off. And what about France and Italy? The future does not look bright.

Profitable, efficient, cost-effective – these are criteria that drive successful companies. What works in business is now reaching deeper into other spheres of life. Man as human capital. Brave new world – curse or blessing?

Endless luxury, private ownership, free trade – they draw many to capitalism. Others criticize maximizing profit and unbridled greed. But how does economic reform really function?

Our lives are measured by economizing standards. Work, education, health, love, friendship – everything is compared to efficiency standards. We speak with Hilmar Schneider of the Institute of Labor Economics.

Pieter Buteneers writes algorithms for business processes. Computer systems learn and predict the preferences of consumers and anticipate their buying habits.

Travel through the land that leads the world in robotics engineering. We accompany Toshimitsu Kawano. He sells German technology to Japanese firms to better connect their factories with one another. Japan is playing catch-up with Industry 4.0.

DW's best-dressed host Gerhard Elfers discusses fashion offences and sartorial disasters in the world of business and politics. This week he turns his attention to the disturbing length of President Trump's ties.

Trump is threatening to impose levies on imports to the US. Cars and auto parts made in Mexico - also by German companies - are sold in the US. The suppliers are looking to reduce their dependency on both the US market and on the car makers.