[j7ake]

Differences (structure, funding, prestige) between institutes within Europe / USA are way larger than the differences between Europe versus USA.

What really matters in the end is whether an institute is able to attract “rockstars” in their field. Even better if these rockstars care about their institute and are willing to hire and develop young talent.

A single rockstar can elevate the prestige of an entire institution: look at Richard Sutton at University of Alberta, or Thomas Cech at Colorado.

[vintermann]

This was my impression also, that there is a lot of difference how academia works across Europe. I'm not really an academic, but I went to a small international machine learning conference some years ago. The Norwegian postdocs got paid better than the French professor, apparently.

[j7ake]

A French professor (eg CNRS researcher) is a civil servant, appointed for life, with substantial benefits such as pensions and absolute academic freedom. A postdoc in Norway has salary contingent on grants, limited to a few years, and is at the mercy of an advisor (a bad boss will destroy your career).

Making a few thousand euros more per month as a postdoc in Norway is nothing in comparison with a lifetime appointment at CNRS.

Competition for CNRS positions is as difficult as getting into a top tier faculty position in United States.

[aleph_minus_one]

> The Norwegian postdocs got paid better than the French professor, apparently.

Norway is a more expensive country to live in than France.