Since structural

Competitiveness crisis

European firms invest less in R&D, scale slower and pay more for energy and capital than their American peers. The Draghi report put a number on closing that gap; not closing it has a number too, and it is paid in wages that grow slower than they could.

Accrued this year

€280,805,494,279

€12,929 /sec

Per citizen

€625.40

€909 per year

Per household

€1,425.41

€2,071 per year

Cost timeline

Modelled yearly cost across the EU, 2015–2026.

EU-wide

Figures are EU-wide and divided equally across 449 million residents.

Direct costs

€165.0 bn/yr

Money that leaves a public budget or an invoice.

  • Public R&D and innovation shortfall vs. target€90.0 bn
  • Digital and grid infrastructure investment gap€75.0 bn

Indirect costs

€243.0 bn/yr

Prices, productivity and welfare effects citizens absorb.

  • Foregone GDP from the productivity gap€180.0 bn
  • Capital and talent leaving for the US€35.0 bn
  • Regulatory compliance burden on SMEs€28.0 bn

Sources & references