IN EARLY December Berlin’s local papers reported what might sound like good news: the city’s budget was expected to be in surplus by nearly €1.5bn at the end of 2017, a new record. That means plenty of extra cash for repayment of the capital’s enormous debt and sorely needed investment in its infrastructure.

IN EARLY December Berlin’s local papers reported what might sound like good news: the city’s budget was expected to be in surplus by nearly €1.5bn at the end of 2017, a new record. That means plenty of extra cash for repayment of the capital’s enormous debt and sorely needed investment in its infrastructure.