[earthnail]

I like the article, but I think the consequences that the author suggests lack insight into what’s really holding European entrepreneurs back.

IMO it’s all about simplifying regulation. Simplify tax. Simplify bookkeeping. Simplify hiring and firing.

I’ve lived in various European countries and I always get the impression so much energy is spent on solving every edge case with yet another rule, trying to make the world perfectly fair. It arranges the status quo better but prevents a lot of future change.

Generally speaking, I firmly agree with the analysis of the author. As far as modern tech like computers go, the “providerism” description is spot on.

[Telemakhos]

Thomas More once (I think in the often unread first half of Utopia) that the only fair system of laws is one simple enough for the average citizen to understand. Once you need legal professionals to understand the laws or to navigate the justice system, you're holding people accountable to standards they don't know, and that's fundamentally unjust.