[chucke1992]

due to amount of regulations it is hard to start business in europe and thus they mainly have old business (like BMW etc.) that are in decline. but innovation happens in other places.

There are two exceptions though - France (partially) and Sweden.

[palata]

Right, I guess it depends on your metric. Happiness, someone?

[chucke1992]

happiness ends when your economy goes down the drain.

[FirmwareBurner]

Problem is European youth and pensioners can't see the connection, so they keep voting for more taxes on the middle earning class to pay for more welfare and higher pensions.

[palata]

The connection I see is fossil fuels. Europe needs to start preparing for a world with less energy. The US don't have to care yet, they can keep screwing up the climate full speed for a little longer.