Only the United States of Europe will enable Europeans to compete with Asia and America! This thesis has become the central, unquestionable belief of the EU and is pursued regardless of costs or public resistance. However, as bestselling authors Andreas Marquart and Philipp Bagus demonstrate, large, centrally organized state behemoths do not foster innovation or freedom, but rather paternalism, corruption, and waste. In contrast, freedom and prosperity are hallmarks of small and micro-states. These are not only much better protected against corruption, but also—historical and contemporary examples show—far more peaceful. For this reason, a keen analysis of the mantra-like assertion "bigger is simply better" is worthwhile, as the reality is quite different.