| The Great British Weather |
| |
| SIR – Having read your article on economics and religion (“Holy relevance”, |
| October 29th), I'd like to propose the weather as a historical indicator of a |
| nation's [id:96444] and prosperity. |
| |
| If Britain enjoyed warm temperatures and 300 days of sun a year, would its |
| people so easily accept enclosing themselves in a workshop, factory or office for |
| eight or so hours every weekday, even if it led to increased prosperity? Isn't life |
| too short not to be enjoyed? |
| |
| If the Greeks woke up four days out of five to find the sun was nowhere to be |
| seen, with rain and wind more than probable, would they still opt for leisurely |
| lunches on patios, noontime naps and short working days? One may as well stay |
| inside and work, there's little else to do. |
| |
| How would these two countries' economic destinies be different today had they |
| gone through history with the other's weather patterns? |
| |
| Saro Agnerian, Montreal |
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| economist.com, 2011 |
