EU VAT-Rates Compared

The value added tax raises the price on consumer goods. Almost all EU countries had a higher VAT-rate in 2012 compared to 2000. Perhaps surprisingly, Hungary has the highest VAT-rate, followed by Scandinavian Denmark and Sweden. Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, Spain and Romania particularly saw their VAT rising in the last twelve years. Except for Cyprus, all of these countries have now a higher rate than the average for the EU of 21 percent.

Reuters

Hourly Labour Costs European Union Private Sector 2011

This chart with data from Eurostat shows the estimated hourly labour costs in euro's for enterprises with more than 10 employees in the European Union. Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and France have the highest labour costs. Bulgaria, Romania and Latvia have the lowest costs.

Eurostat

'The Lost Generation', Youth Unemployment In Eurozone and US

This graph from The Economist compares current youth unemployment rates with the rates before the crisis.

Due to a request by the Economist this graph has been removed. 

View the graph here

EU Corporate Tax Rates

In this graph you can see the current corporate tax rates for the countries in the European Union.

Source: Adam Smith

Right Wing Populists in National Parliaments

The picture from Der Spiegel gives the number of seats of the right wing populists in national parliaments in Europe.

(Click for bigger version)

Ritholz