Why is Northern Europe more developed and prosperous than Southern Europe? (ethic, economy)

[knowledgeiskey]

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.

[pnwmdk]

Wouldn't it be better if you answered the questions about what libertarian policies are destructive, and why?

[CravingMountains]

I honestly blame Catholicism. Truly, truly, I believe that to be Southern Europe's downfall. Catholicism is a very socialist religion that puts great shame on working hard to improve your living standards. Everyone is supposed to live in happy poverty. Germanic Europe managed to get rid of Catholicism from their countries (with the exception of a few pockets in Netherlands and Germany) and look at how successful those countries are.

I don't have anything against Catholics. My biological father's family are all Catholic. But I am very glad that America still has the Protestant work ethic and not the Catholic work ethic.

[pnwmdk]

Originally Posted by InsaneTraveler

I honestly blame Catholicism. Truly, truly, I believe that to be Southern Europe's downfall. Catholicism is a very socialist religion that puts great shame on working hard to improve your living standards. Everyone is supposed to live in happy poverty. Germanic Europe managed to get rid of Catholicism from their countries (with the exception of a few pockets in Netherlands and Germany) and look at how successful those countries are.

I don't have anything against Catholics. My biological father's family are all Catholic. But I am very glad that America still has the Protestant work ethic and not the Catholic work ethic.

The first half of your name is truly a serendipitous choice.

Your argument is truly beyond absurd.

The difference is culture, and that difference is the value of and belief in WORK as the means to prosper.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by InsaneTraveler

I honestly blame Catholicism. Truly, truly, I believe that to be Southern Europe's downfall. Catholicism is a very socialist religion that puts great shame on working hard to improve your living standards. Everyone is supposed to live in happy poverty. Germanic Europe managed to get rid of Catholicism from their countries (with the exception of a few pockets in Netherlands and Germany) and look at how successful those countries are.

I don't have anything against Catholics. My biological father's family are all Catholic. But I am very glad that America still has the Protestant work ethic and not the Catholic work ethic.

Your theory may also explain why very solidly catholic countries such as Poland or Ireland, neither of which were in southern Europe, remained largely agrarian.

[evilnewbie]

Here it was that i thought it was western europe is better than eastern europe....

[CravingMountains]

Originally Posted by pnwmdk

The first half of your name is truly a serendipitous choice.

Your argument is truly beyond absurd.

The difference is culture, and that difference is the value of and belief in WORK as the means to prosper.

And I bet you are a Catholic! Hehe.

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.

[Goinback2011]

Originally Posted by InsaneTraveler

I honestly blame Catholicism. Truly, truly, I believe that to be Southern Europe's downfall. Catholicism is a very socialist religion that puts great shame on working hard to improve your living standards. Everyone is supposed to live in happy poverty. Germanic Europe managed to get rid of Catholicism from their countries (with the exception of a few pockets in Netherlands and Germany) and look at how successful those countries are.

I don't have anything against Catholics. My biological father's family are all Catholic. But I am very glad that America still has the Protestant work ethic and not the Catholic work ethic.

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.

[geofra]

Because it's too cold to go to the beach...

[CravingMountains]

Originally Posted by Jaggy001

Your theory may also explain why very solidly catholic countries such as Poland or Ireland, neither of which were in southern Europe, remained largely agrarian.

Yup! The only two exceptions are Switzerland (which has a significant protestant population) and Austria. Well, France too maybe. But the French have been some of the least religious people on Earth for centuries now. And their economy has never exactly been stellar. Somewhere between Spain and Sweden is France.