Conquer Club

subtleknifewield wrote:One should not simply reject the past because times have changed. It should still be remembered so that we can at least attempt to learn from its mistakes and try to avoid making the same ones in new guises.

subtleknifewield wrote:Not really. You just wish it was.

waauw wrote:No need to get rid of old culture, old ideas, old customs and old habits purely because they're old. Many of them provide strong economic advantages in some way or another.

mrswdk wrote:

waauw wrote:No need to get rid of old culture, old ideas, old customs and old habits purely because they're old. Many of them provide strong economic advantages in some way or another.

Eagerly awaiting examples and evidence of the economic advantages they bring.

• American economy is dependent on attracting the brightest minds from all over the world, in this american culture plays a big role as many people look up to american lifestyle. A bit naively, but still.
• What made many top tier products in europe the best in the world was a cultural mindset towards certain products. It's because the italians like to wear fashion clothing so much that they have so many top fashion brands. It's because the french consider wine as a piece of art rather than just another product, that they've become so proficient at making wine. Etc.
• It's because of the cultural mindset to fear loans and to hamster money on their savings accounts rather than invest it, that the belgian housingmarket didn't collapse. We had enough money saved up to keep paying our bills.
• It's because of chauvinism that Germany and Belgium were able to shield their markets from foreign beers. We drink local beers as a matter of national pride. In fact, both are the only countries in the world that Heineken has consistently failed to penetrate succesfully. (drinking Heineken is considered a public disgrace)
• etc.

waauw wrote:

• American economy is dependent on attracting the brightest minds from all over the world, in this american culture plays a big role as many people look up to american lifestyle. A bit naively, but still.

• What made many top tier products in europe the best in the world was a cultural mindset towards certain products. It's because the italians like to wear fashion clothing so much that they have so many top fashion brands. It's because the french consider wine as a piece of art rather than just another product, that they've become so proficient at making wine. Etc.

• It's because of the cultural mindset to fear loans and to hamster money on their savings accounts rather than invest it, that the belgian housingmarket didn't collapse. We had enough money saved up to keep paying our bills.

• It's because of chauvinism that Germany and Belgium were able to shield their markets from foreign beers. We drink local beers as a matter of national pride. In fact, both are the only countries in the world that Heineken has consistently failed to penetrate succesfully. (drinking Heineken is considered a public disgrace)

mrswdk wrote:

waauw wrote:

• American economy is dependent on attracting the brightest minds from all over the world, in this american culture plays a big role as many people look up to american lifestyle. A bit naively, but still.

They look up to American money, same as the people who flock to Singapore, Shanghai or Dubai.

mrswdk wrote:

• What made many top tier products in europe the best in the world was a cultural midset towards certain products. It's because the italians like to wear fashion clothing so much that they have so many top fashion brands. It's because the french consider wine as a piece of art rather than just another product, that they've become so proficient at making wine. Etc.

What enabled Europe to start making lots of top-tier products from an early point in time is that it was rich and had a lot of people who were interested in those products.

I mean, take this list of the world's top luxury brands. Four French, three Italian, one Swiss, one British and one American. China is the biggest market for luxury goods in the world. So why doesn't China, with its 'cultural mindset towards' luxury goods comparable to any developed country, dominate that list?

mrswdk wrote:

• It's because of the cultural mindset to fear loans and to hamster money on their savings accounts rather than invest it, that the belgian housingmarket didn't collapse. We had enough money saved up to keep paying our bills.

wat

mrswdk wrote:

• It's because of chauvinism that Germany and Belgium were able to shield their markets from foreign beers. We drink local beers as a matter of national pride. In fact, both are the only countries in the world that Heineken has consistently failed to penetrate succesfully. (drinking Heineken is considered a public disgrace)

Either German and Belgian beers are better than foreign competitors, in which case they have protected themselves by being of superior quality, or Belgian and German beers are worse than foreign competitors, in which case pig-headed nationalism is propping up a flaccid industry that ought to be allowed to succumb to the competition.

waauw wrote:

mrswdk wrote:

waauw wrote:

• American economy is dependent on attracting the brightest minds from all over the world, in this american culture plays a big role as many people look up to american lifestyle. A bit naively, but still.

They look up to American money, same as the people who flock to Singapore, Shanghai or Dubai.

The american life is a concept that holds a certain allure to rich europeans as well. It's more than just money.

• What made many top tier products in europe the best in the world was a cultural midset towards certain products. It's because the italians like to wear fashion clothing so much that they have so many top fashion brands. It's because the french consider wine as a piece of art rather than just another product, that they've become so proficient at making wine. Etc.

What enabled Europe to start making lots of top-tier products from an early point in time is that it was rich and had a lot of people who were interested in those products.

I mean, take this list of the world's top luxury brands. Four French, three Italian, one Swiss, one British and one American. China is the biggest market for luxury goods in the world. So why doesn't China, with its 'cultural mindset towards' luxury goods comparable to any developed country, dominate that list?

Customer demand, especially for luxury goods, is culturally rooted.

• It's because of the cultural mindset to fear loans and to hamster money on their savings accounts rather than invest it, that the belgian housingmarket didn't collapse. We had enough money saved up to keep paying our bills.

wat

Many northern european countries have a culture of saving money rather than spending it, which is one of the reasons northern europe is stronger than mediterranean europe who have a more 'carpe diem' attitude.

• It's because of chauvinism that Germany and Belgium were able to shield their markets from foreign beers. We drink local beers as a matter of national pride. In fact, both are the only countries in the world that Heineken has consistently failed to penetrate succesfully. (drinking Heineken is considered a public disgrace)

Either German and Belgian beers are better than foreign competitors, in which case they have protected themselves by being of superior quality, or Belgian and German beers are worse than foreign competitors, in which case pig-headed nationalism is propping up a flaccid industry that ought to be allowed to succumb to the competition.

In my opinion german and belgian beers are superior, but that's not the only factor at play here. I can give you a first hand account that belgians and germans consider beer as a product of national pride. Don't try and lecture me on my own culture.

mrswdk wrote:
I mean, the reason Norway is stronger is because it is sat on enormous amounts of oil.

Bernie Sanders wrote:The Chinese have far more culture than Germany and Belgium!
Did the Germany and Belgium have a "Cultural Revolution? NO! China did!
Rest my case...

mrswdk wrote:Rich Belgians, maybe. The only people I've met who think it would be awesome to go to America are from developing countries, but they would also be just as happy to go to Europe or Australia/NZ.

mrswdk wrote:'Wanting to look rich' isn't really specific to any one culture or time.

mrswdk wrote:I mean, the reason Norway is stronger is because it is sat on enormous amounts of oil.

mrswdk wrote:All you're doing is repeating your original point and ignoring what I said.

WingCmdr Ginkapo wrote:

mrswdk wrote:
I mean, the reason Norway is stronger is because it is sat on enormous amounts of oil.

Thats not why they will remain rich for a long time though.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/ ... 0U20140108

Its cultural.

waauw wrote:People in different countries hold different standards. The italians put more effort in being well-dressed, the germans love investing into cars, the japanese have high standards for electronic devices, etc.

mrswdk wrote:

waauw wrote:People in different countries hold different standards. The italians put more effort in being well-dressed, the germans love investing into cars, the japanese have high standards for electronic devices, etc.

So which racist stereotypes are responsible for the economic successes of these countries:

America
Singapore
New Zealand
Sweden
Netherlands
Korea

?