[whydoyoucare]

I'd like to as in what ways is Europe great? From my narrow point of view, most if not all successful startups were founded outside Europe, most countries in Western Europe tend to be monolithic cultures where outsiders are made to feel like outsiders, and many European nations are socialist utopias (which means they take away a HUGE chunk of salary as tax).

(And I am asking this in a friendly tone, as a genuinely curious question, and not a combative one. These nuances get lost, so putting them down in words). Thanks.

[ponector]

It is great for living, for raising kids. For life.

Taxes in Europe are huge, but comparable with taxes in California. Just sum all federal, state, local taxes on the salary, property taxes, sales taxes, health insurance fee, college tuition fee. Don't forget to add 25% tips to that. Count also small vacation, maternity leave and sick leave.

And then compare for example with France.

And not to mention you wouldn't find anywhere in EU thousands of homeless junkies shitting on the streets.

[julienb_sea]

I'm sorry, I don't think you have sufficient perspective on what middle class life is like in France to make this comment with any justification. French taxation is incredibly complex and heavy on the middle class. It is financially unfeasible for most middle class households to pass down their homes to their children due to the estate tax kicking on assets over 100,000 eur. There are many unhoused people spread across rural city centers and the outer banlieues of Paris. College is vastly more restricted in France and unavailable to the majority of the population. Social mobility is significantly constrained. Life grinds to a halt with some regularity due to general strikes. I am immensely grateful to have American citizenship and not have to raise my family in France.

[sharadov]

If you work in tech - earning's wise you'll still come out far ahead of Europe. Ask the Europeans working in SV.

[refurb]

No. Just look at taxes as a percentage of GDP and you can see EU taxes are 50%+ higher than even CA.

Then add on top the lower wages.

[eru]

Switzerland and Estonia have somewhat lower taxes than eg UK, France and Germany.

[misantroop]

Startups operating in Americas are founded in US. Rest of the world is different. For example, Lazada is huge in SEA and was created by Rocket Internet (DE). Delivery Hero (again, DE) is massive in SEA as well, the US ones like DoorDash have absolutely no presence. Uber isn't a thing anymore either. In fact I see far more European and Asian companies operating globally nowadays, US startups are quite isolationist.