"Frugal" countries and southern euro-zone countries: What accounts for the economic performance gap?

"Frugal" European countries (Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark) clearly have a better economic performance (growth, unemployment, public finance situation, income level, foreign trade) than the southern euro-zone countries (France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece). What could account for this economic performance gap? More efficient education and vocational training systems in frugal countries? Government efficiency and favourable tax pressure in frugal countries? A greater corporate investment and modernisation effort in frugal countries? Better control of production costs in frugal countries? All these mechanisms are in fact present .