Per Bob F:
My take is that, in Germany -and Europe in general - the benefits
productivity increases was at least split between workers and business
owners... but in the USA, the benefits of productivity increases went
exclusively to business owners.

As I understand it, German law requires substantial represnetation from labor on
corporate boards.

I didn't want to muddy the water by going there.... but my impression is
that just about every worker in Germany belongs to a union.

At one point, my #2 daughter and one of my German nephews worked
essentially the same job: in a travel agency. The nephew, of course,
belonged to a union; and the daughter, of course, did not.

The nephew got paid for overtime, six weeks vacation, lunch breaks, a
living wage, medical coverage, pension plan, and so-on and so-forth.

The daughter had to work overtime but did not get paid for it. Not only
that, but they didn't even get fed at mealtimes.... they just had to
skip dinner and keep working until they were allowed to leave. *Then*
they got to eat.

Needless to say, no vacation time, no medical coverage, and very close
to minimum wage.
--
Pete Cresswell