Comparing Europeans and Americans

Introduction

Objective measures of a good society include

“...How long people live, how happy they are and whether they can afford the things they need…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

Furthermore, a society can be 

“...sustainable as measured by carbon emissions, collective debt and level of innovation…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

 Europeans and Americans do things differently resulting in 

“...Europeans have more time, and the American's have more money…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

Europeans vs Americans

-   Americans are more ambitious and work harder, eg

“...Americans, who typically have less paid holiday, notch up the equivalent of more than an hour of extra work every weekday, compared with Europeans…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

-   Americans are more productive per hour worked than most Europeans

-   Generally, Americans are paid more than most Europeans

-   Americans express more enthusiasm about their jobs than Europeans

-   Americans seek more success than Europeans

“...The US offers big prizes for finishing top, and big punishment for finishing bottom…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

-   Europeans are more concerned about work-life balance then Americans

“... As economies advance, Americans have opted for more money. Europeans have stuck with the historical trend; once people rise above subsistence level, and have covered their needs, they tend to prioritize free time, rather than devoting their lives to maximizing wealth…”

 Simon Kuper, 2024

Many Americans end up overworked and unhappy;  

“...the US finished 23rd for self-reported happiness…”

Simon Kuper, 2024

While European countries, especially the Nordic ones, take top spots in self-reported happiness.

-   Europeans tend to live longer, ie most Europeans live to the mid-80s while the Americans are  in the late 70s

-   On economic sustainability the Americans are worse off, ie the US has a higher government debt:

“...The US has a higher government debt-to-GDP ratio than almost all European countries; 123 %, nearly double that of......Germany, and triple Norway, Sweden and Denmark…”

IMF as quoted by Simon Kuper, 2024

-   Americans are greater carbon emitters

“...Americans use their extra wealth to buy more stuff than Europeans, and to drive more, use more air- conditioning and so on. Consequently, US emissions were 13.3 tonnes per capita in 2023, against 5.4 for the EU…”

International Energy Agency as quoted by Simon Kuper, 2024

-   The Americans produce more Innovations than Europeans

“...There is no European Google, Telsla or Facebook…”
Simon Kuper, 2024