Why Europe doesn’t have a Tesla  - Works in Progress Magazine

Europe's cutting edge firms are falling far behind the American frontier because of restrictive labor laws.

In recent decades, Europe has fallen behind the United States. In 2000, incomes in the original six members of the European Union were just 10 percent behind Americans. Today, they are 20 percent lower. One factor behind this has been the lack of innovation in European business. To a striking extent, Europe lacks tech giants like Google, Meta and Amazon. But even in industries in which it has traditionally excelled, like carmaking, Europe has failed to keep up. Tesla is now worth more than the next nine largest carmakers in the world put together. Six American cities are now served by robotaxi

saved by

• nicolas

related reading

• Steve Blank Innovation and Entrepreneurship July 2025steveblank.com
• The Constitution of Innovationconstitutionofinnovation.eu
• Is Europe Better Than America for Working in Tech? | Relocate.merelocate.me
• Obvious Observations on Americaisaak.net
• Works in Progress Magazineworksinprogress.co
• Taking Risk - Tom Blomfieldtomblomfield.com
• The engine of Germany's wealth is blocking its future | The European Correspondenteuropeancorrespondent.com
• Luis Garicano 🇪🇺🇺🇦 on X: "We stopped everything to write an answer (link below) to Paul Krugman's two posts of today (one informal, one with a simple model) arguing that Europe is broadly not falling behind the United States. The change measured by the Draghi report, he argues, is mostly due to growth" / Xx.com
• Why is it so hard to buy things that work well?danluu.com
• How Technology Grows (a Restatement of Definite Optimism)danwang.co
• How Airbus took off - Works in Progress Magazineworksinprogress.co
• Works in Progress Magazineworksinprogress.co