We rich!

Americans have broader access and ability to afford technology, plus we work longer hours.

Burdizzo said:

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On of the reasons America kicks the crap out of the rest of the world in GDP is because we work a lot more than everyone else. Typical Europeans work about 75% of the hours that Americans do. I am not complaining, but I feel like that should be made clear to all our wannabe Americans that come here. Being an American takes effort and hard work.

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We have a strongly ingrained work ethic. Most Europeans do not. They don't care about getting ahead. Success is not celebrated, it is hidden as it is deemed bragging and unseemly undignified conduct. (Especially in the UK.)

Burdizzo, they already know.

https://fortune.com/europe/article/how-many-hours-work-week-year-american-workers-ethic-norges-bank/

When a Norwegian tells you, "I am in charge of my country's sovereign wealth fund, and we put 1/2 of it in the United States," you have to suppress the desire to laugh at the thing that he has inadvertently admitted.

Europe is just now realizing how their GDP/person is 75% - 60% of US. They were pretty close to parity 30 years ago.

Most countries are below the average of Mississippi residents.

Poor Poor Europe.

The report that the UK would rank 51st economically per capita vs the perceived "4th or 5th" by the survey results makes me so happy.

Where da eff you been, mate????

Raising kids. Practicing law.

We got a colleague that made his way to Achin Rump

Coincidentally- India and Pakistan and Nigeria are the worst underperformers in the world. with three of the largest Muslim populations in the world.

Ratio (GDP Pop. share)~4.3

Israel produces about 4 more GDP than its population share would suggest a significant overperformer, on par with countries like France or the UK.

In context:

Israel's GDP represents about 0.51% of the world economy, while its ~9.8 million people make up only about 0.12% of the world's population.

TRADING ECONOMICS
As of 2025, the IMF estimated Israel has the 25th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP remarkable for a country of its size. Wikipedia

GDP per capita in Israel is around $69,804 in 2026, placing it among the wealthiest nations per person

Turns out stopping to pray 38 times a day and protesting anytime one of your terrorist buddies is vaporized does not result in high productivity at the missile factory. Who knew…

It means we're better at everything...as always.

Over_ed said:

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Europe is just now realizing how their GDP/person is 75% - 60% of US. They were pretty close to parity 30 years ago.

Most countries are below the average of Mississippi residents.

Poor Poor Europe.

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The reason they started to fall behind was they greatly enhanced their welfare state, governments increased their interference in the marketplace, they made it impossible to fire employees so employers started hiring new workers outside the Continent, and regulated the heck out of their businesses. The push for zero GHG emissions didn't help either.

Unfortunately, we are doing some of the same things.

LMCane said:

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Coincidentally- India and Pakistan and Nigeria are the worst underperformers in the world. with three of the largest Muslim populations in the world.

Ratio (GDP Pop. share)~4.3

Israel produces about 4 more GDP than its population share would suggest a significant overperformer, on par with countries like France or the UK.

In context:

Israel's GDP represents about 0.51% of the world economy, while its ~9.8 million people make up only about 0.12% of the world's population.

TRADING ECONOMICS
As of 2025, the IMF estimated Israel has the 25th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP remarkable for a country of its size. Wikipedia

GDP per capita in Israel is around $69,804 in 2026, placing it among the wealthiest nations per person

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A culture is all about its values. Muslim countries value control and lack of creativity and liberty. Countries like Israel and the US reward those things (currently).

Burdizzo said:

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On of the reasons America kicks the crap out of the rest of the world in GDP is because we work a lot more than everyone else. Typical Europeans work about 75% of the hours that Americans do. I am not complaining, but I feel like that should be made clear to all our wannabe Americans that come here. Being an American takes effort and hard work.

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We noticed this in Italy last year. They strike a pretty good balance of being a first world country but not working themselves to death. There's a price to pay for being the best at everything. Americans experience this as work dominates life here. We produce more and do more and innovate more than any other country. But there's a price to pay for that as well.

aggiehawg said:

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Burdizzo said:

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On of the reasons America kicks the crap out of the rest of the world in GDP is because we work a lot more than everyone else. Typical Europeans work about 75% of the hours that Americans do. I am not complaining, but I feel like that should be made clear to all our wannabe Americans that come here. Being an American takes effort and hard work.

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We have a strongly ingrained work ethic. Most Europeans do not. They don't care about getting ahead. Success is not celebrated, it is hidden as it is deemed bragging and unseemly undignified conduct. (Especially in the UK.)

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While I agree European work ethic on average isn't what it is here, work ethic isn't the biggest driver of success.

As measured by hours worked, the US is now 72nd behind many emerging market countries especially in Asia. The attachment allows you to see how it changes over time (see the rapid drop in Germany to support Hawg's point about Europe.)

https://ourworldindata.org/rich-poor-working-hours

Sweat shops and essentially slave labor hours is an apples and oranges kind of comparison.

My point about the differences in work ethic between the US and Europeans is more aptly correlated to time off. Europeans will take every drop of their holiday time to avoid work. Nor while on holiday do they even think about work or checking in.

Americans have much shorter paid vacations and often do not even take all of their vacation. They also usually are not completely disengaged while on vacation.

aggiehawg said:

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Sweat shops and essentially slave labor hours is an apples and oranges kind of comparison.

My point about the differences in work ethic between the US and Europeans is more aptly correlated to time off. Europeans will take every drop of their holiday time to avoid work. Nor while on holiday do they even think about work or checking in.

Americans have much shorter paid vacations and often do not even take all of their vacation. They also usually are not completely disengaged while on vacation.

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Ever worked closely with Asians especially from places like South Korea, Japan, Singapore, etc? It isn't slave labor but they work a heck of a lot more than Americans.

I agree with you on what is happening in Europe but I see more and more of that attitude in the US today than at the turn of the century.