[pfyra]

> I'd say most of the US Big Tech have their European HQ in Dublin.

That's due to tax reasons. US companies extracting value from Europe while avoiding taxes at all costs.

[gerbler]

Also it is (and was) the only English speaking country in the eurozone.

Tax was a huge factor in drawing some of the big names but the double-Irish (the worst aspect of tax avoidance) had been phased out. Corporate tax is 12.5% which is lower than the majority of EU countries [1] but the existing ecosystem of companies has also helped create an attractive labour pool. If it's purely tax everyone would move to Hungary (9%).

1: https://taxfoundation.org/2021-corporate-tax-rates-in-europe...

[varjag]

A number of European countries have near 100% English literacy and allow for document workflow and accounting in English. I suspect it's mostly the taxes.

[moonchrome]

>A number of European countries have near 100% English literacy and allow for document workflow and accounting in English.

Like he said, there are places with tax rates below Ireland (eg. Hungary, Bulgaria). Taxes are a significant aspect but it's a combination of things.

[dbs]

Taxes AND rule of law

[aix1]

> A number of European countries have near 100% English literacy and allow for document workflow and accounting in English.

Is there a handy list of such countries?

(I'm genuinely curious.)

[varjag]

The three Scandinavian ones plus Finland, Iceland and possibly the Netherlands. Maybe some others too.

English documentation is customarily recognized throughout the EU.

[gerbler]

I totally agree that English can be used entirely for businesses in other euro countries but for a US company it is attractive for employees/families to be in country where English is an official language.

[TravelPiglet]

English literacy in Finland is pretty bad.

[Zitrax]

According to this ranking Finland is on 3rd place for English skills in Europe, only behind Netherlands and Denmark.

https://www.ef.com/wwen/epi/