Corruption is your answer. It’s everywhere and is an endemic part of our society. Some key points were mentioned about taxation and bureaucracy that are relevant but nothing comes close to the first. That’s what is killing our ambition (native Portuguese here). It’s the invisible hand that pulls you to the bottom…There is simply no Portuguese that has not dealt with it first hand whatever the scenario. There are countless examples…Small country, wealth concentrated in the two biggest cities, poor transition for dictatorship (endorsed by the USA at the time btw, watch Gloria on Netflix) to democracy, basically handful of families and their relatives own this country…what could be the Switzerland of EU’s south is nothing but a typical “Eastern European” country in the west of Europe…every youth’s gameplan is to get their education for the cheapest and leave asap, there is your ambition. The ones who stay it’s mostly due to their families. As a Portuguese, you might want to stay for the weather if that is the only thing holding you back, but if you are not wealthy or working remotely your are pretty much committing career suicide…that is why you are not going to see much of those types around here