Not how they do it in PHILADELPHIA

[Traianvs]

In fact our lives are much better for less effort.

Because money doesn't make you happier, but time to spend on your personal relationships and other interests does.

I agree. We are undervaluing many things that make most sense in a society to make people happy. While GDP in some countries may be bigger, life satisfaction isn't necessarily any higher, and inequality and a host of other less desirable features of society may be more prevalent.

Working longer hours to earn more money on stuff you don't really need doesn't necessarily make you happier. Spending time on relationships on the other hand, does.

[KrazyHorse]

labor productivity in the us is substantially higher than in europe as a whole (eu15).

Instead of wildly speculating, you should look at the data.

[MikeH]

No, what we should have done was not get sidetracked as to whether we were more or less productive because it's irrelevant to the main point which is that it's a better life being a worker in Europe than in the US.

[KrazyHorse]

The revealed preference of us workers is to work the hours they do for more pay. The revealed preference of euro workers us to work less hours for krs pay.

The only thing to note is the well-known fact that the revealed preference of euro workers vs us workers has changed over the last 50 years as their governments have introduced higher and higher tax wedges between production and consumption.

[MikeH]

The research shows very clearly and repeatedly that, once you have enough money to pay for your basic living needs, your happiness does not increase as wealth increases. In fact the higher someones aspirations are for higher standard of living the more miserable they are, even if they achieve their aspirational goals. (this is of course not proportional to wealth).

If you don't have enough money to cover basic living standards, food, shelter, health etc. your happiness suffers. Of course.

Which suggests the European model of taxing higher proportions of higher incomes to provide services for everyone is a sensible course to increase overall happiness. And :

"When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

[giblets]

Great, that explains why some people who make a lot of money are such *******s on the internet

[MikeH]

The only thing to note is the well-known fact that the revealed preference of euro workers vs us workers has changed over the last 50 years as their governments have introduced higher and higher tax wedges between production and consumption.

Would be interested to know if these trends in change of revealed preference precede or follow the introduction of higher tax wedges?

ie. Are Euro governments introducing these because that's what we're demanding?

[Tupac Shakur]

The best thing about America, is that they've persuaded you that all the most depressingly **** things about your country are things to be proud of.

Yeah, we have to work 24/7 every day until we die because we can't afford to see a doctor, but at least we're not doing something that might be considered "socialist"! God bless US!

This doesn't even make any sense. If you're working 24/7, you can totally afford to see a doctor in America.

What amazes me is that you and other Europeans can't see that America's culture (including its work ethic) is what allowed us to lap you lazy ****s generations ago.

[BeBMan]

No, what we should have done was not get sidetracked as to whether we were more or less productive because it's irrelevant to the main point which is that it's a better life being a worker in Europe than in the US.

Bah, if anything we need more US good vs. Europe bad/vice versa stuff. It's hardly ever done on the intarweb.

[MikeH]

[Dinner]

labor productivity in the us is substantially higher than in europe as a whole (eu15).

Instead of wildly speculating, you should look at the data.

I thought Germany had a higher productivity rate.

[pchang]

Those Southern Euros bring down the average..........

[Al B. Sure!]

So I get it... KH mentions Philadelphia, in all caps no less, to presumably get my attention. And then he mentions his promotion to VP. Interdasting.

[DaShi]

I know. You guys could make your secret flirting codes less obvious.

[Kidlicious]

I thought Germany had a higher productivity rate.

There are areas in the US where productivity is relatively high as well.