So according to the CPB welfare spending as a percentage of GDP in the Netherlands increased significantly from ~20% (1930) to ~40% (1970) up to ~60% (1980). h

So according to the CPB welfare spending as a percentage of GDP in the Netherlands increased significantly from ~20% (1930) to ~40% (1970) up to ~60% (1980). https://www.cpb.nl/sites/default/files/publicaties/download/de-nederlandse-collectieve-uitgaven-historisch-perspectief.pdf https://www.cpb.nl/sites/default/files/publicaties/download/... As welfare spending increased we started losing our ability to innovate. We lost DAF cars (1972), Fokker (1996) and Philips has become a shadow of what it used to be. So take a company like Philips. Before they brought technical innovations like color television, the VCR and Compact Disc. I believe product development has since shifted from hardcore engineering design (technical) towards industrial design (art). Philips now believes it's all about "consumer lifestyle" as opposed to developing the next technological breakthroughs. Since then the consumer divisions pretty much died and all that remains are the consumer-less engineering divisions (ASML and Philips healthcare). How did this happen? I believe the welfare attitude plays a big role. People have gotten too comfortable. The education system is part to blame as well. Colleges and universities trying to lure students with sexy programs and the promises of sexy careers (that no company needs). Engineering usually isn't on that list of sexy jobs. In the US people seem to better understand you need to work hard to move forward. A job is more about the value you can provide as opposed to the value you receive. It seems we understood that better in Europe a couple of decades ago.