They don't have to be. But it's complicated.

And sure, entrepreneurship is allowed, but then you'll have to convince your family of why are you not getting a nice job as a government clerk or something.

One barrier to entrepreneurship in the U.S. is lack of health benefits when you're self-employed. There's not much of a social safety net here compared to most of Europe. Thus, one would think that Europe would actually be a better place to quit your job and pursue some startup idea. Why isn't that the case?

If you can get investors backing you, you really don't need to care what your family says.

It is just as cultural in the US that many families are affronted by their children or relatives that choose to try entrepreneurship over employment.

> Why do those philosophies have to be mutually exclusive? Can't you apply principles of social welfare to the public sector while allowing entrepreneurship in the private sector?

Because they compete for capital. The former requires high taxes, which leave a lot less private capital for investment and entrepreneurship. For example, imagine if the government had taxed away 90% of Elon Musk's fortune.