Germany Is Straining Beneath the Refugee Crisis

As it happens, Germany already has such a system. It allocates refugees among the 16 federal states according to a formula that takes account of tax revenues and population. It is not perfect, for it means that some refugees end up in areas where locals are hostile. But the alternative—that some regions take many, others none—is not sustainable. Germany is constantly being told to be a hegemon in the EU, and has often been reluctant. This year’s refugee crisis may finally prompt it to lead.