--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Europe is often held up as a cautionary…" description: "\"Europe is often held up as a cautionary tale, a demonstration that if you try to make the economy less brutal, to take better care of your fellow citiz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/paul-krugman-2255_brutal_europe-is-often-held-up-as-a-cautionary_3142648.jpg" --- # Europe is often held up as a cautionary tale, a… ![“Europe is often held up as a cautionary tale, a demonstration that if you try to make the economy less brutal, to take better care of your fellow citizens when they're down on their luck, you end up killing economic progress. But what European experience actually demonstrates is the opposite…” quote by Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/paul-krugman-2255_brutal_europe-is-often-held-up-as-a-cautionary_3142648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/paul-krugman-2255_brutal_europe-is-often-held-up-as-a-cautionary_3142648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bc/paul-krugman-2255_brutal_europe-is-often-held-up-as-a-cautionary_3142648.jpg) > “Europe is often held up as a cautionary tale, a demonstration that if you try to make the economy less brutal, to take better care of your fellow citizens when they're down on their luck, you end up killing economic progress. But what European experience actually demonstrates is the opposite: social justice and progress can go hand in hand.” [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social welfare policies can coexist with economic growth, disproving the myth that compassion hinders prosperity. **In simple terms:** Compassion and growth can coexist. Key Takeaway Support policies that help the vulnerable while fostering innovation. Themes economics social justice policy growth inequality Mood optimistic analytical Type policy economic When to use this quote - government budgeting - urban planning - business strategy - public health - education reform Key Concepts welfare state inclusive growth public investment Questions to Reflect On - How can we design welfare that encourages entrepreneurship? - What evidence shows inclusive policies boost long‑term growth? A Different Perspective Opponents argue high taxes and regulation may deter investment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Cautionary tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautionary-tales/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-progress/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [European Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/european-experience-5606985/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Killing Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-economic-332538/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress European](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-european-5606984/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“Another myth of necessity is that killing is an economic imperative. While an economic motive has driven many violent ideologies--the economy of the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-joy/another-myth-of-necessity-is-that-killing-is-an-economic-imperative/) [Melanie Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-joy/) > [We've all learned about this disease since it was first discovered several years ago in Europe. And so I think we've learned from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-veneman/we-ve-all-learned-about-this-disease-since-it-was-first-discovered/) [Ann Veneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-veneman/) > [Yes, over the centuries economic progress has reduced some gross disparities - modern Americans are relatively unlikely to simply starve to death (though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/yes-over-the-centuries-economic-progress-has-reduced-some-gross/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I'm not certain that I draw from any one culture more than others. Many myths and legends of many different cultures are really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/i-m-not-certain-that-i-draw-from-any-one-culture-more-than-others/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [ We thought by setting the film \["Selling Isobel"\] in the cloak of... let's call it an indie-Hollywood thriller, it would appeal to a wider… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-buitendach/we-thought-by-setting-the-film-selling-isobel-in-the-cloak-of-let-s/) [Rudolf Buitendach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-buitendach/) > [From the time we're born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and coconspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/from-the-time-we-re-born-our-brothers-and-sisters-are-our/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [After an 18-year career, I left the film industry, not wanting to become one of those child-actor cautionary tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jakub/after-an-18-year-career-i-left-the-film-industry-not-wanting-to/) [Lisa Jakub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jakub/) > [Have you ever been tempted to start your own business? First read this cautionary tale, especially if you think your ideas come from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-vischer/have-you-ever-been-tempted-to-start-your-own-business-first-read-this/) [Phil Vischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-vischer/) > [Cautionary tales were fantastic in the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/cautionary-tales-were-fantastic-in-the-70s/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [The greatest sci-fis, in my mind, are two things: They're what-ifs - what if this happened, and you get to see it - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/the-greatest-sci-fis-in-my-mind-are-two-things-they-re-what-ifs-what/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [Jacqueline Carey has created a postmodern fable of enormous scope and force. Santa Olivia is at once a cautionary tale of people caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-van-lustbader/jacqueline-carey-has-created-a-postmodern-fable-of-enormous-scope-and/) [Eric Van Lustbader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-van-lustbader/) > [Most songs that aren't jump-rope songs, or lullabies, are cautionary tales or goodbye songs and road songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-songs-that-aren-t-jump-rope-songs-or-lullabies-are-cautionary/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I find campfire stories and urban legends are kind of the bread and butter that inspires a lot of people who are making horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-find-campfire-stories-and-urban-legends-are-kind-of-the-bread-and/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [Fairytales were never really meant for children; they were meant as cautionary tales for teenagers on the verge of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-forsyth/fairytales-were-never-really-meant-for-children-they-were-meant-as/) [Kate Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-forsyth/) > [PowerPoint presentations, the cesspool of data visualization that Microsoft has visited upon the earth. PowerPoint, indeed, is a cautionary tale in our emerging data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/powerpoint-presentations-the-cesspool-of-data-visualization-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paul Krugman > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Surely I'm not the only person to ask the obvious question: How different, really, is Mr. Madoff's tale from the story of the investment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/surely-i-m-not-the-only-person-to-ask-the-obvious-question-how/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The rich are different from you and me: they have more influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-they-have-more-influence/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“The Internet’s impact on the economy has been no greater than the fax machine’s….ten years from now, the phrase “information economy” will sound silly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-internet-s-impact-on-the-economy-has-been-no-greater-than-the-fax/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Not all private equity people are evil. Only some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/not-all-private-equity-people-are-evil-only-some/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [You really have to go searching desperately to find any contemporary examples of good, old-fashioned runaway inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/you-really-have-to-go-searching-desperately-to-find-any-contemporary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [However, the fact that an economist offers a theoretical analysis does not and should not automatically command respect. What is needed is some assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/however-the-fact-that-an-economist-offers-a-theoretical-analysis-does/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/politics-determines-who-has-the-power-not-who-has-the-truth/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The key reason executives are paid so much now is that they appoint the members of the corporate board that determines their compensation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-key-reason-executives-are-paid-so-much-now-is-that-they-appoint/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I've always believed in expansionary monetary policy and if necessary fiscal policy when the economy is depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-ve-always-believed-in-expansionary-monetary-policy-and-if-necessary/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [...academic credentials are neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for having your ideas taken seriously. If a famous professor repeatedly says stupid things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/academic-credentials-are-neither-a-necessary-nor-a-sufficient/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power...So will the attack on unions succeed? I don’t know. But anyone who cares about retaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/it-s-not-about-the-budget-it-s-about-the-power-so-will-the-attack-on/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [When stock prices are rising, it's called ''momentum investing''; when they are falling, it's called ''panic.''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/when-stock-prices-are-rising-it-s-called-momentum-investing-when-they/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I don't want a job in the administration; I think I'm more effective carping from the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-don-t-want-a-job-in-the-administration-i-think-i-m-more-effective/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Under the gold standard America had no major financial panics other than in 1873, 1884, 1890, 1893, 1907, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/under-the-gold-standard-america-had-no-major-financial-panics-other/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) [Explore all 175 Paul Krugman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## More Brutal quotes > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The novel is the dream release, the suspension of reality that history needs to escape its own brutal confinements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-novel-is-the-dream-release-the-suspension-of-reality-that-history/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [The Lord expects us to enjoy our lives. He says there will be some brutal times, but we shouldn't get all bent out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/the-lord-expects-us-to-enjoy-our-lives-he-says-there-will-be-some/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent-how-highly-educated-how/) [Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/) > [I find that truly heartbreaking that, like, it's such a common, constant thing in people's lives - a brutal abuse of people by other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/i-find-that-truly-heartbreaking-that-like-it-s-such-a-common-constant/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) > [I think brutal honesty is extremely important. Don't be afraid of being up-front about your feelings and your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kelly/i-think-brutal-honesty-is-extremely-important-don-t-be-afraid-of/) [Minka Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kelly/) > [When my friends have been heartbroken, I give them a shoulder to cry on and some brutal advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/when-my-friends-have-been-heartbroken-i-give-them-a-shoulder-to-cry/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In my experience sometimes the darker the material that you're doing, the more necessary it is to have some sort of levity around. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-stahl/in-my-experience-sometimes-the-darker-the-material-that-you-re-doing/) [Nick Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-stahl/) > [I do have one very brutal writing ritual. If I'm working in the morning, I don't allow myself a cup of tea until I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lane/i-do-have-one-very-brutal-writing-ritual-if-i-m-working-in-the/) [Anthony Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lane/) > [The circle of an empty day is brutal and at night it tightens around your neck like a noose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/the-circle-of-an-empty-day-is-brutal-and-at-night-it-tightens-around/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [“I had brutal beginnings. I will not let the darkness in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jennings/i-had-brutal-beginnings-i-will-not-let-the-darkness-in/) [Melissa Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jennings/) > [Usually I avoided college students, whom I considered brutal, wrapped up in themselves, particularly in their youth, in which they found material for drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-i-avoided-college-students-whom-i-considered-brutal-wrapped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 790 Brutal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Europe is often held up as a cautionary tale, a demonstration that if you try to make the economy less brutal, to take better care of your fellow citizens when they're down on their luck, you end up killing economic progress. 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