Western Europe vs. East Asia: Values, Economics, and Society

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In our world today, there are two models that have proved to have excellent results in promoting sustainable economies and societal cohesion, but with very different methods.

Western/Northern European (this also includes Canada, Australia, and New Zealand but does NOT include the US): Focused on the tenets of liberalism, freedom, and social democracy, they have created massive welfare states with high levels of government intervention in the economy, and a very permissive and tolerant culture. Crime rates are low, and there is a great deal of social cohesion. Many of these countries are undergoing economic crisis though, as austerity measures meant to curb the massive debt has failed. Poverty is very low.

East Asian (S. Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan): Focused on pragmatism, efficiency, and productivity, they have created MINIMAL welfare states (they very highly believe in the work ethic) and government spending does NOT constitute a large percentage of the GDP. Culture is very conservative, but not based on religion and there is not much open discrimination. Crime rates are even LOWER than in Europe (NOTE: this is in contrast to America, where more repressive laws made by conservatives lead to more crime), and social cohesion is high. These economies are doing quite well- none of the locations above I mentioned have unemployment rates higher than 4%, and these places are generally net creditors as opposed to debtors. Poverty is very low.

Which is a better system for creating a harmonious and stable society?

I think that people in Asia overwork themselves.

Conservatives say that austerity is the only solution but debt cancellation would give the economy a fresh start.

If certain bloggers whom I follow have been telling the truth, many Asians pursue $$$ at the expense of work-life balance. Life in East Asian countries, though generally harmonious and stable, can be dreadfully stressful.

Singapore is apparently the unhappiest place on Earth

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/2 ... de=1903944

My ideal utopia consists of East Asian work expectations of long hours and high productivity combined with European expectations of long (2-3 month) vacations.

I'd much rather work 60 hour work weeks and get 4 months of paid vacation a year than work 40 hour work weeks and get little/no vacation a year. The over # of hours still ends up being the same in both cases.