Why Europe is dying and how America can escape its stagnant fate

America needs more rules to protect workers, say some from both parties. Republican Sen.Josh Hawley wants more rules empowering unions. Barack Obama’s former labor secretary says there’s “no fairness, no equity, no concern for safety, no concern for children, even!” European countries, they say, have more laws protecting workers, and so “Europe is better.”That’s nonsense, says economist Sven Larson.

He grew up in Sweden, but now says, “If you’re a worker, you don’t want to live in Sweden!”One reason is that unemployment is 10%.“If you get fired,” says Larson, “There’s no job out there for you.”Years ago, America’s economy grew neck and neck with the European Union’s.Then, about 15 years ago, Europe stopped growing.Today, the USA is 50% richer — even though the EU has 100 million more people.Europe is kind of like a big museum.

Tourist money keeps it going, but there’s so little growth that, per person, America’s poorest state (Mississippi) is now richer than most European countries.The reason is the very same policies ignorant Americans want to copy — like higher taxes on the rich.“But what do you do when you run out of the rich?” asks Larson.“Tax the almost rich.

Then you run out of them.”But some Americans today are absurdly rich.Even “if you add up all the value these individuals have,” he replies, “it’s nowhere near enough to pay the obligations that the federal government has.”So, tax is taken from the average worker.In Sweden, he says, “Average workers pay [a higher percentage of] taxes than you do if you make $400,000 here in the United States.”But at least their health care is free.“No!” he replies.“You get the right to free health care, but whether you get health care is a different story.

I have friends who died in the Swedish health care system because they couldn’t get treatment in time.”Still, Europe offers generous welfare benefits.“They take care of people!” I tell ...