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That seems like an exaggeration. Sorting on the net PPP column at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage https://en.wikipedi

by T-A 8y ago

That seems like an exaggeration. Sorting on the net PPP column at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_... the lowest EU member is Bulgaria (1475), the highest is Luxembourg (3843); that's a factor 2.6. The EU also has much larger cultural barriers to movement than the US (different languages, just to mention the most obvious one).

Mirioron 8y ago
Just take a look at Bulgaria's population graph: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Bulgaria#/media/File%3ABulgaria-demography.png https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Bulgaria#/me... I very much question the validity of PPP in this case. Things are no doubt cheaper in Bulgaria, but I'm fairly certain that electronics, cars etc are going to cost roughly the same, because there's a free flow of goods. People just make do with less. Also keep in mind that people might move abroad to work there, but still come back home once in a while. The effect on the economy is still going to be similar. The median equivalised net income is just too different inside the EU: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di04&lang=en http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_...
MandieD 8y ago
PPP only fully matters if you a) insist on living a local-typical lifestyle and b) intend to live there forever. Immigrants to Germany do not run out and get nearly-new Golfs and rent townhouses; they tend to be content with somewhat nicer than where they came from for at least the first few years, presumably saving up the difference, often with plans to head home someday. German is also widely taught in Eastern European schools, so the language barrier isn’t as high as Americans think it is. (Sample: Romanians, Poles and Croatians I know through work)

by T-A 8y ago

Mirioron 8y ago

Just take a look at Bulgaria's population graph: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Bulgaria#/media/File%3ABulgaria-demography.png https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Bulgaria#/me... I very much question the validity of PPP in this case. Things are no doubt cheaper in Bulgaria, but I'm fairly certain that electronics, cars etc are going to cost roughly the same, because there's a free flow of goods. People just make do with less. Also keep in mind that people might move abroad to work there, but still come back home once in a while. The effect on the economy is still going to be similar. The median equivalised net income is just too different inside the EU: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di04&lang=en http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_...

MandieD 8y ago

PPP only fully matters if you a) insist on living a local-typical lifestyle and b) intend to live there forever. Immigrants to Germany do not run out and get nearly-new Golfs and rent townhouses; they tend to be content with somewhat nicer than where they came from for at least the first few years, presumably saving up the difference, often with plans to head home someday. German is also widely taught in Eastern European schools, so the language barrier isn’t as high as Americans think it is. (Sample: Romanians, Poles and Croatians I know through work)