The European Model is in Crisis but not Everything should be Thrown Away.

An interesting American perspective on the European social 'modelS' is presented by Matthew Yglesias on his blog, and he's right about something important - not everything in the French 'model' should be thrown away. While recognizing that "the economic models on hand in France and Germany have a lot of problems", he says:

At the same time, specific aspects of the French model, like its excellent health care system, would be extremely beneficial to the United States. Recognizing that doesn't imply that we should slavishly imitate every aspect of the French state like its burdensome labor regulations, or horrifically misguided approach to cultural pluralism.

He also pointed out the the demographic problems are less acute in countries that have some welfare system as in the case in France where people live longer and have comparatively more childern because of better subsidies for childcare, sizeable child benefits, good paid parental leave, and more childcare facilities.

While the N.Y Times article by David Brooks, discussed by Yglesias on his blog, makes some very good points, it fails to see the positive aspects of the Continental European social model. The American model is most certainly not for Europe just in the same way that the European model is inconceivable in the US. What Europe needs is a real THIRD way which is yet to be found with more economic flexibility while keeping the core of its social welfare.
Europe needs to invent something that does not exist.