>Take tech out of the equation and the US is pretty much on par with EU
Disagree. It's not just the nature of the technology itself but the whole ecosystem -- including VC and education -- in Sillicon Valley that develops cutting edge computer tech, plus generally looser business regulation in the US and a culture of greater optimism nationally, especially relative to EU.
Certainly having a unified market (not just in regulation, government, and currency but also linguistically) has helped too especially given the network/winner-take-all effects of tech you mention. Yes the nature of technology is part of it. But it's not everything. It's a whole gestalt.
I mean, consider where we are right now, who set it up, who hangs out there, etc.
Disagree. It's not just the nature of the technology itself but the whole ecosystem -- including VC and education -- in Sillicon Valley that develops cutting edge computer tech, plus generally looser business regulation in the US and a culture of greater optimism nationally, especially relative to EU.
Certainly having a unified market (not just in regulation, government, and currency but also linguistically) has helped too especially given the network/winner-take-all effects of tech you mention. Yes the nature of technology is part of it. But it's not everything. It's a whole gestalt.
I mean, consider where we are right now, who set it up, who hangs out there, etc.