[rPlayer6554]

I see so many comments about how great the EU is v.s. the US based on how much the government provides. How can you be surprised that people and corporations in the EU aren't going to have the same drive as US companies to be competitive? E.U. companies do well with long, incremental growth (German cars are great) but not with innovation and fast growth.

[ClumsyPilot]

"How can you be surprised that people and corporations in the EU aren't going to have the same drive as US companies to be competitive?"

So your theory is "the less a person has, the more motivated and productive they are". Surely some poverty striken nation like Somalia should be pinnacle of productivity?

Or do you need infrastructure and education, perhaps lets try Russia, mexico?

If that's still not good enough, what makes you believe thay the sweetspot of support is the US?

Or could an alternative, much simpler theory be true, that the country that's the world's money printing press and global center of capital has some kind of advantage?

[rPlayer6554]

> the less a person has, the more motivated and productive they are

Absolutely not. I'm saying that high tax rates and high levels of direct government benefits from those taxes stifles innovation by reducing the incentives to be innovative.

Does it make for an "equal society." Sure. But that also means that you don't reward people with innovative ideas or who go way above and beyond. Sure they could work their ass off to make their idea a reality....or they could just not. It's not like they'll get massively rewarded for it. Plus the government probably gives them what they need already.

Yes there is a sweet spot and infrastructure is important. If the government doesn't do anything people die on the streets which is A. Inhuman B. Makes people more concerned about not dying over anything else. I also think promoting good education is really important so you give people a path from nothing to something. Who cares if you make it rewarding to succeed if it's absolutely impossible from birth for some people.

I can only say the US is the closest sweet spot just by the results. It's absolutely not perfect, but the US is specifically known for its Innovation and productivity.

[ClumsyPilot]

"I can only say the US is the closest sweet spot just by the results"

You are putting together a social hypothesis you like, and then trying to find evidence that fits.

There a number of problems with this: A - there are alternative theories that make just as much sence, so whay makes your hypothesis preffered?

B - Norway has higher productivity than US and has the highest amiunt of social suplort in the world, surely that disproves your theory?

https://time.com/4621185/worker-productivity-countries/

[lttlrck]

Considering it's size and how heterogeneous it is compared to rest of the top 5 the US seems to be remarkable.

[bryan_w]

Europe may not be able to compete, but at least they get 4 months mandatory vacation a year and 5 years of paternity leave.

[ClumsyPilot]

I wish we did have 4 months of vacation.

From the day you get your first job till the end of your career, you have about 2 years total to split between you wife, kids and aging parents that may pass away before you get to retire. This is quite sad actually, work for 40 year to earn 2 years of life