While growth has been reasonably stable since EMU started, per capita GDP – probably the best measure of economic success available – shows that Europe has lagged other regions, even when the figures are adjusted for workforce size. It is also well known that European productivity is falling behind, too, probably due to the same factors that make Europe seem dull, cautious, and lacking in ambition when compared with many of its competitors.
实际上，欧元区的领导人们不应该过分关注内部增长的差异而应该更重视整体经济表现欠佳的明显信号。尽管自欧洲货币联盟启动以来经济增长较为平稳，但人均GDP—可能是衡量经济成功的最佳指标—却显示欧洲落于其他地区，即便是统计数据由于劳动力规模的原因进行了调整之后依然如此。欧洲生产力正在掉队也是众所周知，可能正是同样的原因造成了欧洲在和其它对手相比之下的沉闷、谨慎和缺乏雄心。