Unveiling the economic divide between the U.S. and Eurozone

The report highlights a staggering increase in the economic gap between the regions: Since 1999, the economic disparity has grown from 11% to 30%, with the average American enjoying a 35% higher real income than the average European, a gap that has widened significantly since the 2008 financial crisis.

Several key factors give the U.S. an upper hand. These include:

  • More flexible economic policies, aided by lower government funding costs.
  • The advantage of lower energy costs, a boon in times of energy and geopolitical uncertainty.
  • A significant lead in the technology sector, underpinned by better access to early-stage financing and international talent.
  • Strong demographics profile and natural resource availability, crucial for powering the green transition.

In contrast, Europe's challenges stem largely from self-imposed constraints:

  • Over-regulation and red tape are stifling productivity growth.
  • Fragmented capital markets that limit efficient funding.
  • Complex and backlog-prone EU programs, impeding economic development.
  • Political and national interests hindering initiatives like the Capital Markets Union.

Yet, it's not all doom and gloom for the Eurozone. Europe is spearheading the green transition, with significantly lower CO2 emissions and a lead in green goods trade. This shift toward a green economy offers a beacon of hope, potentially generating jobs and offsetting the impacts of deindustrialization in declining sectors.

To regain its competitive edge, the Eurozone must act swiftly and decisively. Key areas of focus should include:

  • Cutting down on red tape and over-regulation.
  • Revitalizing the Capital Markets Union.
  • Streamlining the absorption of EU funds.
  • Strengthening European industrial policies to mitigate subsidy races.

Europe's economic revitalization hinges on structural reforms, financial integration, and the completion of initiatives like the Banking Union. The choices made now will significantly impact the region's economic future.

This Allianz Research report is not just a collection of data and trends; it's a call to action for policymakers and business leaders alike. You can find the detailed analysis here.

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, active in almost 70 countries and serving around 97 million private and corporate customers*. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 764 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 2.0 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2025, over 156,000 employees achieved total business volume of 186.9 billion euros and an operating profit of 17.4 billion euros for the Group.

* Customer count reflects Allianz customers in consolidated entities that are part of the customer reporting scope only.

** As of December 31, 2025.

As with all content published on this site, these statements are subject to our cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements:

Allianz: Construction companies to see robust growth and “new age” risks post-Covid

The global construction market is set for a sustained period of strong growth post-Covid-19, driven by government spending on infrastructure and the transition to a net zero society. However, the switch to more sustainable buildings and infrastructure, the upscaling of clean energy facilities and the adoption of modern building methods will transform the risk landscape, with radical changes in design, materials and processes.

Allianz: Companies need to strengthen cyber controls to counter ransomware pandemic

This AGCS report highlights cyber risk trends driving the surge in ransomware incidents, such as double and triple extortion and supply chain attacks. Business interruption and recovery are the main causes of financial loss for companies. Many attacks could be prevented if companies strengthen their cyber security and controls – often with simple measures. 

Covid baby bust: The silver lining

“There’ll be babies,” they said, “Nurseries everywhere full of new babies, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.” The much-touted Covid baby boom failed to materialize, but that could spell good news for women and families by helping narrow income and pension gaps.