If "Old Europe" is so Retro ... e.g., lacking in Yankee Decisiveness ... then why do they work so (relatively) little, live so (relatively) long ... and do just fine in the League Competitiveness Rankings (e.g., Finland #1)?
Consider just the life expectancy bit: USA: Men 74, Women 80. Germany: M75, W81. Finland: M74, W82. UK: M76, W81. France: M75, W83. Switzerland: M76, W82. Italy: M76, W82. Norway: M76, W82. Spain: M76, W83. Sweden: M78, W83.