If Sweden was a U.S. state, how rich would it be? (HINT: Not Very)

The Claremont Institute ^ | December 7, 2004 | Joey Tartakovsky

[SolutionsOnly]

Doesn't Sweden also have one of the highest suicide and alcoholism rates of all the European nations as well? I thought

I read that somewhere a couple of years back. Little to do with economics: Scandinavian countries have high rates of depression and suicide due to sunlight deprivation

Agreed. Look the the stats for Alaska - the same problems exist there

[SolutionsOnly]

Does this also apply to Alaska?

Yes

[Killing Time]

Thanks. Not trying to make any particular point here, just that I know at least one person who does really suffer from SAD, which doesn't seem to be a made-up disease.

So it is not counter intuitive, for me at least, to think that those latitudes which are sun starved for long parts of the year might suffer high rates of depression, irrespective of any other factors.

[tomjohn77]

Well either all states in the US is above average in income or this little study is false. I know the numbers for some states. Average income in the US is not much higher than in Denmark and Ireland and lower than in Luxembourg by far. Income in the US is a lot lower than in Luxembourg it can not comparable. So this little study is crap and nothing more. I have been traveling around Europe and the US and I love statistics and facts. So I will say that Denmark and Ireland is comparable to the US in wealth. France, UK, Italy and Germany and Sweden are somewhat poorer. Spain is poorer than them, but a wonderful country that I want to live in if I got a good job there. But without compareson Luxembourg is the most wealthy and the US can not compare to the lifestyle there. Belgium is also pretty good.

[longtermmemmory]

The study is significant but the article is spun like a top.

They try and make the EU look good but can't.

Basically the riches EU is still among the poorest states. It reminds me of the days of the USSR when their population upon encountering americans would call them liars for saying they had TWO cars and their hould house and land with (grass just for show).

The citizens of the countries of the EU are intentionally kept blind.

[longtermmemmory]

Most europeans don't even realize there is a fox or that CNN is fourth of three.

It also points out that the use of the "ic" and the end of democrat is a MSM tool to imply the republican party is not democratic.

Both parties are democratic (per se). If these people went to journalism school they should have been taught and remember GRAMMAR! Its Democrat Party not democratic party.

[americanbychoice2]

Everything is relative.
I ahve lived in Europe for a total of 34 years and still go there 4 times a year.

While Iceland and Luxemburg are very high income countries, you should use "after tax income".
Now look at VAT, prices for goods, etc. The disposable income of Europeans is very small compared to the US. You can't argue that point with most Europeans though.

I went to Iceland a few months ago and couldn't believe the high cost of products there. High Income=high costs in most situations.

[Sam Cree]

I thought that was a PJ O'Rourke quote!

[bray]

If the UK, France, or Italy became U.S. states, they would rank as the fifth poorest of the fifty, ahead only of Arkansas, Montana, West Virginia, and Mississippi.

They can't even afford a Double Wide in France!

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Polybius]

The richest EU country—Ireland—

I did not know that.

How times change.

[Plutarch]

The main question is when do "Swedish Bride" web sites begin to compete with the "Russian Bride" sites?

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

"To be loved, you have to be nice to others EVERYDAY!.
To be hated, you don't have to do squat." Homer Simpson

America rules! Euroweenies suck!

[tomjohn77]

Well lets just say that i know that Luxembourg is the richest country and by far more wealthy than the US when purchesing power parity is accounted. It can not be argued

[americanbychoice2]

Bottom line, no. Higher gross income than the US, yes.
Compare the prices in country( If you have enough dollars to exchange) :-)

[tomjohn77]

and North Dakota atleast

[Polybius]

My Swede acquaintances say their system is better because they don't have any poor people.

Have they visited Malmö lately?

Swedish authorities in the southern city of Malmö have been busy with a sudden influx of Muslim immigrants - 90 percent of whom are unemployed and many who are angry and taking it out on the country that took them in. .....one quarter of Malmö's 250,000 population is now Muslim, changing the face and the idea of what it means to be Swedish. Asylum seekers may bring spouses, brothers and grandparents with them. Civil servants say the city is swamped.

[tomjohn77]

I said Purchesing power parity. If you dont know the term then I will end this discussion because then you have no grasp of economy etc

[tomjohn77]

please list the GDP per capita in the European countries that you have