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| | In the former [[Soviet Union]], a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.<ref>[http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2015/08/you-pretend-to-work-putin-pretends-to.html You Pretend to work and Putin pretends to pay you]</ref> A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref> In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> | | In the former [[Soviet Union]], a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.<ref>[http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2015/08/you-pretend-to-work-putin-pretends-to.html You Pretend to work and Putin pretends to pay you]</ref> A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref> In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> |
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| | + | Western Europeans work less hours than Americans and workers in many other countries.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/20/steven-landsburg-labor_cx_sl_06work_0523landsburg.html Why Europeans work less hours than Americans], ''Forbes''</ref><ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/average-annual-hours-worked-for-americans-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-2013-8 Check Out How Much The Average American Works Each Year Compared To The French, The Germans, And The Koreans], Business Insider</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18144319 Who works the longest hours?], BBC, 2012</ref> Commenting on this matter, Niall Ferguson wrote a 2004 article published in ''The Telegraph'' entitled, "''The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work''".<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref> |
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| | + | Niall Ferguson also noted in his article: |
| | + | {{cquote|There are, for example, many more Europeans out of work than Americans; over the past decade, US unemployment has averaged 4.6 per cent, compared with 9.2 per cent for the EU. Another difference is in labour participation. Between 1973 and 1998, the percentage of the American population in employment rose from 41 to 49 per cent. But in Germany and France, the equivalent percentage fell to, respectively, 44 and 39 per cent.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref>}} |
| | + | [[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|left|200px|In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>]] |
| | + | In addition, one the significant causes of Europe's economic stagnation is an aging population and the low fertility rates in many European countries.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/30/whats-really-behind-europes-decline-its-the-birth-rates-stupid/ What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid], ''Forbes'' magazine, 5/30/2012</ref> |
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| | + | The regions of [[secular Europe]] which are performing better than the rest of Europe often have a cultural legacy of the Protestant work ethic. For example, a 2011 ''Telegraph'' article noted: "Either way, not a single Protestant or Germanic EU country has so far needed a bailout."<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100116846/yet-another-catholic-country-needs-a-bailout-from-the-protestant-north/ Another Catholic country needs a bailout]</ref> The Protestant [[Reformation]] started in Germany and Germany has one of the strongest economies of Europe. |
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| | Due to lower economic productivity, atheistic [[communism]]/[[socialism]] can lead to a country to eventual financial ruin or significant economic problems which is what occurred to the [[Soviet Union]] and is currently happening in [[secular Europe]] via the [[Eurozone]] financial crisis (see: [[Atheism and sloth#Sloth in atheistic communist countries vs. Protestant work ethic|Sloth in atheistic communist countries]] and [[Atheism and sloth#Secular Europe's economic crisis|Sloth and Secular Europe's economic crisis]]). | | Due to lower economic productivity, atheistic [[communism]]/[[socialism]] can lead to a country to eventual financial ruin or significant economic problems which is what occurred to the [[Soviet Union]] and is currently happening in [[secular Europe]] via the [[Eurozone]] financial crisis (see: [[Atheism and sloth#Sloth in atheistic communist countries vs. Protestant work ethic|Sloth in atheistic communist countries]] and [[Atheism and sloth#Secular Europe's economic crisis|Sloth and Secular Europe's economic crisis]]). |