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.