The Triumph of Europe’s Social Democracy

Thomas Piketty argues that Europe's social democratic model has led to unprecedented prosperity and well-being, defying predictions of decline. He highlights wealth redistribution, accounting for a significant portion of national income, as a key factor. Collective investments in health, education, and infrastructure are crucial elements of European success. Piketty emphasizes the importance of defending Europe's values against nationalist-extractivist models. This model contrasts sharply with the approaches advocated by Trump's supporters and Putin's allies. The choice of indicators used to measure human progress is a critical aspect of this defense. Key indicators include more leisure time, improved health, greater equality, and reduced carbon emissions. These achievements are combined with broadly comparable productivity levels. Gabriel Zucman supports this assessment, highlighting the positive outcomes of the European model. Piketty believes Europe should be proud of its achievements and assert its developmental model. This model offers a counter-narrative to claims of European decline.