e Latin Crescent, the arc that includes most of Italy, the south of France, and the lower two-thirds of Spain and Portugal. Including 90 million individuals, this superregion hugs the Mediterranean Sea and offers Europe's most hospitable climate. In large part because of this climate, this superregion is able to attract more businesses that do not need to be located in a specific place; an EC study showed that only half of Europe's current employment is tied to its location, versus 70 percent just 30 years ago. Wine making, for instance, must be done where the grapes are best able to grow, while computers can be programmed just as easily in a Riviera research park as in a Hamburg high-rise.
The next superregion is the Baltic Leagues, the terrain surrounding the Baltic Sea and its various bays and inlets. With just 43 million people, it is roughly equal to the population of the Balkan Peninsula, making it one of the smaller superregions and the least densely inhabited, since its people are spread over a very wide area. Its power and importance come in large measure from its proximity to the Atlantic Coast and the powerful Mitteleuropa--and its willingness to pay heed to the opportunities of that proximity.
Third is the Atlantic Coast, an immense superregion stretching from the northernmost tip of Norway to Lisbon on the Portuguese coast, and including Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. With a population of 110 million, this superregion is the third most populous of the eight. The Atlantic Coast's shared heritage of seagoing exploration also gives it the important role of Europe's bridge to the Americas and beyond.
Fourth is Mitteleuropa, literally "middle Europe," its economic heart and most important central unifying force. Its population of 140 million and its richly complex history, as well as the economic strength it is currently experiencing, make it an essential player in the continent's future prosperi...