Japanese developers take less risks than western studios, says Mikami

[Soleron]

noname2200 said:

Soleron said:

No it's about countability. "Risks" is being used as a plural and hence countable number (one risk, many risks). So fewer is correct.

"They have less risk" would be correct, because risk would be used as a collective noun there.

The countability part refers to measurable units though, i.e. count nouns. A risk does not fall under that category: it's a mass noun. At the least, I don't see how one normally goes around quantifying risks. Here, even though "risks" is plural, it's really being used as a single unit.

You can count risks. "There are two risks associated with this proposal:" I agree it CAN be used as a mass noun, but then you'd always say "risk" and not "risks". By using "risks" they mean a countable number.