[strictnein]

> "European countries are more productive"

Not really true. Only 2-3 European countries are more productive in terms of GDP per hour worked. Varies based on dataset: [0] [1]

[0] http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=LEVEL [1] http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=PDB_LV

And we're talking European countries with the populations of smaller US states. Luxembourg, Norway, and Ireland.

[bakhy]

All three can be explained away :D Norway = oil, Luxemburg & Ireland = tax havens. The GDP-based worker productivity definition is pretty useless, IMO.