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I think it's not about religion, not at all. And catholics are very prosperous too, maybe it depends on the country, but catholics are much wealthier than protestants here. It's more about culture, politics, i'm not sure...
Sometime in the late 80's or early 90's, there was an Atlantic article where some academic argued the same thing. He also posited it was why there is such a difference between North America and Central/South American development.
Today, political correctness would prevent that article from being published.
If you look at studies after studies, Northern Europe is much financially and socially off. Why is that? What's ironic is that Southern Europe gave rise to European enlightenment through Greek Philosophy.
Greek philosophy is overvalued anyway. What really helped Europe was the industrial revolution and the breakdown of the monarchy.
I think it is because northern europe is more rational, and think about isses from a broader perspective. In southern europe they are mostly concerned about what is in their interest. That's also why there is more corruption, because in southern europe it is about getting caught or not, while in northern europe it is about morals. That combined with left wing ideals do not lead to good results. Left wing policies do not work very well when people are selfish.
Take for instance a look at Greek public sector, and scandinavian public sector. Scandinavia is one of the few places where public workers earn less than private sector workers. They have more security, but they can still be fired. Now lets focus on Greece. Before recently it was illegal to fire public workers, and they earn way above the private sector. Everyone was fighting to become public workers, because that meant you would have a much better standard of living. In Scandinavia the public sector serve the people. In Greece the people serve the public sector.
Scandinavian countries would have done the same if there was no consequences, but people know that by doing that then it will make the government inefficient which will be bad for the society. Greeks know that too, but the public workers don't care. What they care about is getting as much money for themselves as possible. The same thinking applied in their high debt level. Scandinavians would love to spend more, but they know that would be bad for the future. Greeks only care about what they can get now. This short term thinking and their selfishness led to the collapse of Greece and you can find the same short term thinking in the rest of Southern Europe.
That is my explanation for why Southern Europe does worse.
Face the truth bud! And culture, religion, and work are all very closely intertwined. Perhaps you have heard of the protestant work ethic? That phrase didn't come out of thin air.
Considering your first comment on this post, your motive is only to bash Catholics, and as a Catholic, I resent this.
If you know Germany well you should know that the most devastating to the society that could possibly happen is not a religion ( Catholic, Protestant, or whatever) but the substitution of the religion with the belief of government rule and power. east Germany, being ruled by tyrannical commie regime ONLY 50 years kicked that region back into the middle ages - with a total evaporation of any "protestant work ethic" whatsoever.
And East Germany was never in a position like Albania ( economy-wise) and since reunification the east has received billions of marks, then euros for revival.
And it is still a ****hole of Germany.
Beware of the lessons of the totalitarian government ruling.
No, I don't share those views. There are regions in West Germany that have never been communist, but are still in big trouble. (Not to mention that East Germany was more socialist than communist.) Plus, your implication about the work ethic of people in East Germany is wrong. People there worked a lot, they had to because it was a very difficult place to live and survive. But the system prevented them from really getting anywhere despite their work.
Reunification was the last nail in the coffin of many regions in East Germany as West Germans in their hate for and ignorance about everything they were not used to destroyed many companies with potential. Not least because of that, there was also a strong brain drain, leaving many regions of the east overaged and without young, well educated people who could turn things around.
That hate for everything from East Germany is still present today. Recently a very honorable politician from the East died and Western politicians that were invited to his funeral simply did not show up. And one of the most intelligent parties is also shunned in the West just because it is from the East. In my view West Germans are by and large rather dull people, actually.
Some people mentioned corruption. I don't think it is as bad as people believe. There is a difference between perceived and actual corruption. Here in Portugal for instance a lot of people feel that there is a lot of corruption, but data does not really support that view. Likewise there is more corruption in the north than people think. Big German companies like Siemens are caught in legal trouble all the time because of their illegal behavior.
One factor is mentality. Here in the south people are oftentimes very practical and good at improvising. Many people here lack the motivation to try and make things perfect, they simply try to make them work to the extent necessary. Thus they are very good at repairing and restoring old stuff. But those are values that are not appreciated in a one-way world.
Considering your first comment on this post, your motive is only to bash Catholics, and as a Catholic, I resent this.
I just really don't like that poster.
I like most Catholics though! Especially the ones here in America. I think that Catholic immigrants to The States have contributed so many great things to our country.
My father is Catholic and a g-grandmother on mom's side was Catholic. I can't hate them too much. I wouldn't be here without them.
I can't say the same for those in Europe though. And this new pope keeps talking about how Catholics can't let materialistic desires prevent them from living in the more humble existence that God wants his people to live in. I read a speech by Pope Francis and it just reeked of socialism.
I don't. lol. Total agnostic here. I would like to think that Jesus didn't want people to be lazy though.
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