by Jeff Rosenberg

In the past 20 years many Berliners have nurtured high hopes for the restoration of some if not all of the city's pre-World War II industrial and economic strength. With the return of the capital to Berlin has come many billions of Euros in reconstruction and infrastructure spending by federal and local governments.

The "crown jewel" of these efforts is the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport, scheduled to open next year.

But, although hopes are high for continued airline sector growth and Berlin's status as a center for European culture and tourism has skyrocketed in recent years, prospects for deeper economic growth are clouded by unfortunate realities.