PDT 2/2 : Why has tipping increased?

[Sciolist]

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Tipping in Ireland has, as far as I can tell, gone way up over the last 10-20 years. Not to US levels, but to more than almost anywhere else in the world. I think this is because the country has become more Americanized, and much more prosperous with an economic boom beginning in the early 90s and still felt today.

I doubt this helps explain an increase in tipping in the US, but I thought another data point would be useful.

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This is probably a function of more disposable income, Ireland has become a lot richer in the last 20 years.