Freddy, loved the piece. Sharp, uncomfortable and needed.
But I hope you’re already working on the real question: is there any credible path for Europe to reverse this trend, or have they already crossed a point of no return?
I’m actually more pessimistic than your essay suggests, especially after digging into the structural data on demographics, energy, regulation, innovation and capital formation.
On a personal note: I’m one of the ~5,000 people who attended Platzi Conf México in May 2025. Great event.
I’m also subscribed to Platzi with four family members, including my daughters, and we’re all deep into the learning ecosystem you’ve built.
My youngest (just turned 18) lived one year in Germany, speaks fluent German, and is now deciding whether to study engineering or finance in Mexico (TEC or ITAM) or in Germany (TUM or TUB). I’m pushing her to run a rigorous pros-cons analysis: Germany’s promise of excellence vs. Mexico’s dynamism and growth tailwinds.
Curious to hear your take: would you still bet on Germany for the next decade?
I don't think points of no return exist. China was destroyed by war and then burned itself to the ground in the Cultural Revolution. Today, they're in a solid #2 position.
Freddy, 100% agreed… same story with Japan and Europe after WWII.
My remaining question, where I’d love your insight, is timing: could Europe realistically recover within Gen Z’s horizon, or are we talking about a much longer cycle?
“Europe is becoming a museum run by compliance officers. You can regulate growth, or you can generate it. You cannot do both. They have chosen to be the world's referee while everyone else is playing the game”
Without ASML = no chips, no iPhones, no teslas, why not increment the price of each machine given that they are the only company in the world that can fabricate EUV ?
You cannot increase prices forever without stiffling demand and you really need guaranteed demand with agreeable long term contracts to fund your R&D because otherwise you could scare customers into funding an opposition and risk your absolute leverage.
Freddy, loved the piece. Sharp, uncomfortable and needed.
But I hope you’re already working on the real question: is there any credible path for Europe to reverse this trend, or have they already crossed a point of no return?
I’m actually more pessimistic than your essay suggests, especially after digging into the structural data on demographics, energy, regulation, innovation and capital formation.
On a personal note: I’m one of the ~5,000 people who attended Platzi Conf México in May 2025. Great event.
I’m also subscribed to Platzi with four family members, including my daughters, and we’re all deep into the learning ecosystem you’ve built.
My youngest (just turned 18) lived one year in Germany, speaks fluent German, and is now deciding whether to study engineering or finance in Mexico (TEC or ITAM) or in Germany (TUM or TUB). I’m pushing her to run a rigorous pros-cons analysis: Germany’s promise of excellence vs. Mexico’s dynamism and growth tailwinds.
Curious to hear your take: would you still bet on Germany for the next decade?
Regards from CDMX
I don't think points of no return exist. China was destroyed by war and then burned itself to the ground in the Cultural Revolution. Today, they're in a solid #2 position.
Freddy, 100% agreed… same story with Japan and Europe after WWII.
My remaining question, where I’d love your insight, is timing: could Europe realistically recover within Gen Z’s horizon, or are we talking about a much longer cycle?
Thanks,
Antonio
My hope is that the Ukraine war is forcing them to change for the better, faster.
“Europe is becoming a museum run by compliance officers. You can regulate growth, or you can generate it. You cannot do both. They have chosen to be the world's referee while everyone else is playing the game”
Un museo con monopolios que nadie voltea a ver.
Without ASML = no chips, no iPhones, no teslas, why not increment the price of each machine given that they are the only company in the world that can fabricate EUV ?
You cannot increase prices forever without stiffling demand and you really need guaranteed demand with agreeable long term contracts to fund your R&D because otherwise you could scare customers into funding an opposition and risk your absolute leverage.
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hahahahahahahahaha blame the EU!