This open access book aims to show which factors have been decisive in the rise of successful countries. Never before have so many people been so well off. However, prosperity is not a law of nature; it has to be worked for. A liberal economy stands at the forefront of this success – not as a political system, but as a set of economic rules promoting competition, which in turn leads to innovation, research and enormous productivity. Sustainable prosperity is built on a foundation of freedom, equal opportunity and a functioning government. This requires a stable democracy that cannot be defeated by an autocrat. Autocrats claim that “illiberalism” is more efficient, an assertion that justifies their own power. Although autocrats can efficiently guide the first steps out of poverty, once a certain level of prosperity has been achieved, people begin to demand a sense of well-being – freedom and codetermination. Only when this is possible will they feel comfortable, and progress will continue. Respect for human rights is crucial. The rules of the free market do not lean to either the right or left politically. Liberalism and the welfare state are not mutually exclusive. The “conflict” concerns the amount of government intervention. Should there be more or less? As a lawyer, entrepreneur, and board member with over 40 years of experience in this field of conflict, the author clearly describes the conditions necessary for a country to maintain its position at the top. This open access book aims to show which factors have been decisive in the rise of successful countries. Never before have so many people been so well off. However, prosperity is not a law of nature; it has to be worked for. A liberal economy stands at the forefront of this success – not as a political system, but as a set of economic rules promoting competition, which in turn leads to innovation, research and enormous productivity. Sustainable prosperity is built on a foundation of freedom, equal opportunity and a functioning government. This requires a stable democracy that cannot be defeated by an autocrat. The rules of the free market do not lean to either the right or left politically. Liberalism and the welfare state are not mutually exclusive. https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/32165 Front Matter ....Pages i-viii European Values (Max Meyer)....Pages 1-6 Liberalism (Max Meyer)....Pages 7-11 Change and Its Consequences (Max Meyer)....Pages 13-16 The Market, Market Failures, and Market Interventions (Max Meyer)....Pages 17-24 All People Are Winners (Max Meyer)....Pages 25-29 Undesirable Developments and Possibilities for Improvement (Max Meyer)....Pages 31-39 Behavior Towards Autocracies (Max Meyer)....Pages 41-44 Xenophobia (Max Meyer)....Pages 45-48 Education and Culture Made the Difference (Max Meyer)....Pages 49-52 Strategic Development of the European Union (Max Meyer)....Pages 53-61 Good Governance (Max Meyer)....Pages 63-67 Theses and Conclusion (Max Meyer)....Pages 69-71 Back Matter ....Pages 73-74
