this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2026
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Whenever talking about industrial/economic decline in Europe, this talking point is mentioned, along with others ofc.

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[–] Spike@hexbear.net 27 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Whenever I've heard this said it's by right wingers who think the EU is communism

[–] Tabitha@hexbear.net 24 points 3 days ago

this is more often complaining about human rights than lost economic productivity

[–] mrfugu@hexbear.net 11 points 3 days ago

“If we don’t let porky do whatever he wants he’ll take his big bux and do business in some country that will, and instead of getting his pittance we’ll get nothing!!”

[–] ComradeTolva@hexbear.net 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

auto-erotic business regulation

[–] Noodles4dinner@hexbear.net 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That made me aspirate coffee, lol

[–] Collatz_problem@hexbear.net 4 points 3 days ago

Aspirational.

[–] TreadOnMe@hexbear.net 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It is real in so far as starting a new industrial factory in Europe is practically impossible at this stage, with a large regulatory regime that makes it extremely difficult to get started if you don't already have an expert's level of understanding of the industry.

However, that is honestly the least of their issues, industrially speaking. Their primary issues are currently of power, land, and labor. Power is an issue because they are no longer getting cheap LNG from Russia. Land is always an issue in Europe, as it is fairly densely populated and getting things approved for building because of that can be difficult (so partially a regulatory issue), and labor is a problem because engineers are treated extremely well in Europe, so poaching one is considered difficult, especially for a new venture, as well as getting cheap labor for the factory itself.

Regulations are a very very small part of their issues.

[–] huf@hexbear.net 9 points 3 days ago

most of europe (outside the blue banana) isnt that full, you can fit plenty of factories in it. finding a spot for it near a town so your workers can live somewhere is trickier...

[–] EdlritchEconomics@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I can't really speak to industry in the traditional "manufacturing" sense, but I know their food industry regulation is pretty tight. I view this as mostly good thing though, especially when compared with the shit that passes for food in the 'states.

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

EU food regulation exists as a way to support European agricultural industries, both in the sense of making it harder for non Europeans to compete in the European markets, but also in order to artificially inflate the value of European goods.
If so many European economies did not have economic sectors reliant on local luxury and cultural food items they would mandate sawdust be put in the bread.

that's what we do in the US. food regulation in the US exists to support food processing corporations.

thays why our cultural food items are pre-cooked and frozen chicken bacon ranch sandwiches.

[–] Soot@hexbear.net 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

A bit off topic, not the post's fault, I was frustrated already by reading comments. As a European, I'm kinda done hearing USAians opinions on what's happening in Europe (or most other countries really). The misinformation and bad assumptions about other countries seem to be so deeply ingrained in US culture that it's rarely worth the effort of responding to it.

Hexbear does better in general, but even here it's still frustratingly unending. momo-hah

[–] space_comrade@hexbear.net 7 points 3 days ago

Partially true I guess but I think the biggest factor in industrial decline is neoliberal brainworms, they just outsourced most meaningful work to China same as the US.

[–] Awoo@hexbear.net 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It's true in the sense that competing locations where there is less regulation are more competitive. So less investment in various industries occurs.

It's not true in the sense of living standards.

If your measure is how well people are living then european regulation is improving lives, if your measure is financebro shit then it's going to look like choking.

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 5 points 3 days ago

The EU has on multiple ocassions mandated deregulation if local regulations were stricter than Eu standard (I.e. German neoliberal standards)

The EU is an economic project to support European financial and industrial capital, and all its regulation serves either in direct support of that aim or as a concession to be allowed to pursue that aim.

[–] RedWizard@hexbear.net 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Going to need more context here.

[–] RNAi@hexbear.net 4 points 3 days ago

Context added

[–] starkillerfish@hexbear.net 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

what are you talking about

[–] RNAi@hexbear.net 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] starkillerfish@hexbear.net 5 points 3 days ago

There’s two points.

  1. EU has pretty strong labour regulation. If that is brought up as why EU industry is suffering then its right wing nonsense. The environmental regulations are pretty abismal so it’s not even logical from a right wing perspective
  2. The EU industry is suffering bc its policy is tailing the US, ala nordstream. Building a sovereign economy would undermine the US and would probably require socialist planning. So they don’t do that.