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It could well be the opposite. For example free education improves a software company's hiring prospects as there are lots of employee candidates available wit

It could well be the opposite. For example free education improves a software company's hiring prospects as there are lots of employee candidates available with good education. In some countries social mobility is a real thing. As a practical counter example, Sweden has massive taxation and something like most billionaires per capita and a very vibrant software and startup scene. One could actually do some kind of survey what happens to European software companies. Take for example this one started by three Danish guys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borland

_-david-_ 5y ago
Sweden does not have the highest billionaires per capita. Hong Kong, Monaco, Switzerland all have higher rates for example. There are several additional places as well. Is Borland actually a European company? It looks like it was started in California and has a headquarters in Texas. It is now owned by a company in the UK, but it doesnt really seem European to me.
- egman_ekki 5y ago
  From the wikipedia article: > Borland Ltd. was founded in August 1981 by three Danish citizens, Niels Jensen, Ole Henriksen, and Mogens Glad, to develop [...] However, response to the company's products at the CP/M-82 show in San Francisco showed that a U.S. company would be needed to reach the American market. They met Philippe Kahn, who had just moved to Silicon Valley... So yes, Borland is a US company, but founded by 3 Danish folks. That might indicate that Europe doesn't lack innovation or talent, but a large unified market with high purchasing power.
  - raverbashing 5y ago
    Well in 1981 if you wanted to sell stuff for personal computers you would have to be in the Valley. No question about it. I'd say it would have been hard to sell anything that specific even elsewhere in the US at the time.
    - hardolaf 5y ago
      You could have been in NY near NYC too. But yes, at the time, you were either in the valley or by NYC if you were starting a personal computer related business.
tored 5y ago
Sweden has failed to build almost any new big company since the last 100 years. Just look at OMX30 (30 most traded companies at Stockholm stock exchange). Almost all of them are companies older than 100 years. Simplified, many great old successes (old money, i.e the billionaires) and many new promising, but few in-between.

_-david-_ 5y ago

Sweden does not have the highest billionaires per capita. Hong Kong, Monaco, Switzerland all have higher rates for example. There are several additional places as well. Is Borland actually a European company? It looks like it was started in California and has a headquarters in Texas. It is now owned by a company in the UK, but it doesnt really seem European to me.

egman_ekki 5y ago
From the wikipedia article: > Borland Ltd. was founded in August 1981 by three Danish citizens, Niels Jensen, Ole Henriksen, and Mogens Glad, to develop [...] However, response to the company's products at the CP/M-82 show in San Francisco showed that a U.S. company would be needed to reach the American market. They met Philippe Kahn, who had just moved to Silicon Valley... So yes, Borland is a US company, but founded by 3 Danish folks. That might indicate that Europe doesn't lack innovation or talent, but a large unified market with high purchasing power.
- raverbashing 5y ago
  Well in 1981 if you wanted to sell stuff for personal computers you would have to be in the Valley. No question about it. I'd say it would have been hard to sell anything that specific even elsewhere in the US at the time.
  - hardolaf 5y ago
    You could have been in NY near NYC too. But yes, at the time, you were either in the valley or by NYC if you were starting a personal computer related business.

tored 5y ago

Sweden has failed to build almost any new big company since the last 100 years. Just look at OMX30 (30 most traded companies at Stockholm stock exchange). Almost all of them are companies older than 100 years. Simplified, many great old successes (old money, i.e the billionaires) and many new promising, but few in-between.