Old Europe Redux

Euro-sclerosis will be the death of Europe. As the EU shifts from a free-trade internal market (which was good for Europeans) to an odd trans-national sovereign (no evidence this would work, much less help Europeans), the arteries become ever harder. Like porridge in a fairy tale or beds in Greek lore, EU directives and Europe's policies are either too large (marginal tax rates, unemployment, pension obligations) or too small (work week, age of retirement). Result: Europe's best and brightest flee for more choice and broader opportunity:

Germany's brightest and best qualified young professionals are leaving the country in droves and securing lucrative positions abroad. . .. After investing tens of thousands in education and training costs, Germany is losing its best qualified professionals to better paid positions elsewhere, economists complain. And the growing brain drain is compounding Germany's economic woes through the loss of skilled labor and human resources. Nearly 118,000 people packed up and left the country in 2002 for jobs abroad, the German Statistical Office reported. . ..

Of course, the last German brain-drain cost them a war. This time, it might only wreck their economy. (via InstaPundit.)

Update:

How Europe increasingly resembles decadent Weimar (pre-Hitler) Germany: French President Chirac just allowed a woman to marry her dead boyfriend. The groom died in a motorcycle accident 18 months ago. At least the happy couple didn't have to rent another tuxedo.