For Europe’s Middle-Class, Stagnant Wages Stunt Lifestyle

[LongTomH]

Source: The New York Times

The European dream is under assault, as the wave of inflation sweeping the globe mixes with this continent’s long-stagnant wages. Families that once enjoyed Europe’s vaunted quality of life are pinching pennies to buy necessities, and cutting back on extras like movies and vacations abroad.

Potentially more disturbing — especially to the political and social order — are the millions across the continent grappling with the realization that they may have lives worse, not better, than their parents.

“I have this feeling that there is a wall in front of us,” said Axel Marceau, a 41-year-old schoolteacher living outside of Frankfurt. “We’re just not going to get any further.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/business/worldbusiness/01middle.html?em&ex=1209787200&en=52029311ec1217e0&ei=5087%0A

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This seems to be happening worldwide. Europeans probably have it better than most Americans; but, they're slipping too!

[liberal N proud]

1. The oil squeeze is bringing the world economy to a screeching halt

[pattmarty]

5. No, it's Capitalism as a whole. Lack of regulation, AGAIN.

[Lorien]

6. Yep. Lack of regulation and outsourcing

put those jobs back in the US and the EU. and curb predatory capitalism, and we'll be back on track again. As for oil; we have the technology to do far, far more with clean renewables than we have, but the political will is lacking, mostly because of our servitude to the petrodollar and fossil fuel lobbyists.

[OhioChick]

2. I've been reading about a lot of

outsourcing and job loss going on there, as well as in the U.S......and they're NOT happy.

[Juche]

3. What is the cause of it

Seriously, does anyone know why this is happening in Europe?

Worker productivity is up about 50% since the 70s. Outsourcing has supposedly dropped prices for manufactured goods. So why is the European standard of living dropping? They can't blame it on their politics being taken over by radical right wingers like we can so I am not sure whats going on over there. And several of those countries have strong labor movements.

Is it the higher price of oil and healthcare? Is it the growing global economy driving up the price of food, fuel and natural resources? I have heard natural resources are up almost 300% in the last decade in large part to industrialization of places like China.

[dysfunctional press]

7. sounds like the same kinds of things that are happening here-

stagnant wages and outsourcing of jobs.

as far as increased worker productivity- that means that fewer people are needed, but as population grows, more people need jobs. what's good for the corporate bottom-line isn't necessarily good for societal well-being.

[Hannah Bell]

8. For the same reasons it did here in the 80s.

It's deliberate.

[pattmarty]

4. I can see it now: "the great world depression of 2010".

[guitar man]

9. same shit, different continent

welcome to the party :(

[lebkuchen]

10. It's a holiday in Europe today, and the streets are packed with spending Germans

in outdoor cafes, restaurants, riding bikes, strolling along the river with the kids rollerblading beside, walking the dogs, cruising in their hot BMWs. Everyone was illegally parked in my neck of the woods.

Germans are incredibly money-conscious and know what they can/can't afford, unlike US culture, I think. That's why Suse Orman had to be invented. If Germans can't afford to go to the US, they'll find something nearby for a cheaper rate, and which doesn't require a huge expensive visa bureacracy, though such decisions don't help US tourism any...

The rise in the price of gasoline hurts Europeans, though camping/caravaning is still hugely popular, all over Europe, and that cuts down on hotel expenditures.

[girl gone mad]

12. Germany will probably be..

better off than the rest of Europe, in my opinion.

[flygal]

14. happy belated May Day!

I live in a very touristy town in Bavaria and have not seen as many foreign tourists this spring as last. I've also been booking some hotels for travels this summer and finding NO problem. Last year was a much different story. I've been in Germany for six years and food prices are so much higher, but still eating in a cafe is not horribly expensive.

But you're right about Germans finding things to do - that's one thing that's so different here, you can go wandering and enjoy nature so much easier than in the states. When I lived in New Orleans we found a nature trail that NONE of our neighbors had heard of. Yesterday was so nice just wandering around - then stop in a beir garten and have a two hour long lunch!! We ended up being gone for 8 hours. It's easy to do here.

[Javaman]

11. Pfft! welcome to our world.

At least the euro is worth more than the dollar.

[cliss]

13. The European press is all over this.

A Swedish online magazine gives tips on how to "make it till the next pay day". They have suggestions on how to live on a bag of potatoes. They recommended a casserole of White Beans, if you don't have boullion then salt will work just fine"..
Sheesh.

Also, lots of curses right in the headlines regarding the price of gas. (curse) (retch) Price of gas is now 13:00 Skr per liter.
That translates to about $8.60 per gallon. Yikes.
Time to start soaking those beans.

[JasonBlatt]

15. There is a solution to all this: www.energystate.org

Please tell everyone about www.energystate.org

There is a definitive solution to the ills of capitalism and scarcity of energy dynamics.

It has been under our noses for over 100 years.

www.energystate.org

Please pass the word....