> whether it appears as regulation, taxation or a number of other factors aimed at improving safety and comfort Also stuff like being bereft of energy resource

> whether it appears as regulation, taxation or a number of other factors aimed at improving safety and comfort Also stuff like being bereft of energy resources (compared to American oil/gas/solar), having fucking Russia to the East, the cost of rebuilding after WW2, having lots of languages and cultures (limiting effective market size)...