Comment by gunsle

It does have everything to do with it. Why would anyone in Europe be motivated to build anything innovative if they know they will have the government taking 50% of every dollar they make to fund social programs they probably won’t even receive the benefits of? Why would anyone work hard in that environment? You’re completely ignoring the social/productivity implications of high taxation. Additionally, China does not have anywhere near the level of social programs Europe does. No one in China takes two months off a year as a checkout clerk.