** warning this post contains my evaluations and could sound completely ignorant** <br> <br>From what I can tell there is a large concept in america (I think this way as well) that because some countries in that region of the world have such high levels of taxation rates on individuals (60+%) that it stifles investment in markets/stocks and forces people into lives of mediocrity (no ferrari's porsches, mansions, jets). This in turn means people accept middle income jobs, middle of the road houses instead of gunning for glitz and glamor.