[toretore]

I wasn't going to comment more as I don't have much more to say about the subject, but I just have to point out the flaw in this statement:

"There is a still a much lower mobility of the workforce in Europe than what you see in the US, much because of language."

The assumption behind this statement is exactly the kind of mentality I am referring to. There is little mobility because employers don't hire the employees because there is little mobility. It's circular reasoning.

With the jobless rate in certain parts of the south skyrocketing, you'd think this would be an active hunting ground for employers in need of people. You don't think the many 25-35 year old university educated people living with their parents wouldn't jump at a chance of a decently paid job in Norway (or anywhere else for that matter)? It's like a fat man complaining how everyone is making him fat and nobody is fixing it for him. The only real barrier is mentality.

The point about language is fair; it is a concern. But if you're a startup with any sort of vision that extends beyond the narrow world view that I've spent so many words describing, guess what the language of your business is going to be? Surprise, it's English! The company founders speak it, their customers speak it and the excellent but unemployed programmer living with his parents in Bologna speaks it.