[i2km]

Simple answer: no. The economy of SE England is largely comprised of:

1. Shuffling money around 2. Socialist-level ponzi government spending 3. A combination of property flipping and high-end property overseas sales used for tax evasion

Innovation-wise, always looking for the easy wins without the hard work, unlike the US.

As a Brit and former resident, happy to have emigrated and escaped the >50% (soon to be increased) tax rates.

[ggm]

> As a Brit and former resident, happy to have emigrated and escaped the >50% (soon to be increased) tax rates.

Hah. So you don't believe in the Scandi high-tax economy, or the Dutch one?

Resentment of taxation is a perquisite of the rich, overwhelmingly. In fact, most people who are not rich pay reasonable rates of taxation except they pay far more percentage of their income as VAT/consumption taxes, which is of course nothing like 50%

"nineteen for you and one for me" was George Harrison whining about super tax in the 60s. This isn't new.

[maest]

> they pay far more percentage of their income as VAT/consumption taxes, which is of course nothing like 50%

I don't think that's true, unless you assume rich people either a. spend a lower percentage of their income (in which case, what's the point in having money) or b. they avoid VAT when they do spend.

[throw092309]

UK state does not provide high level of services, to justify super high tax. You have to wait years for some surgeries from NHS. Infrastructure such as transport system. Education. Safety....

[tebbers]

Can I ask where you moved to?