[RKV]

Look you are giving anecdotal evidence and I am going with national economic statistics. I am sorry, but I am not going to buy unsubstantiated bits of data. The bottom line is that the average American is better off than the average Swede. Period. And what’s more, is given the difference in the growth rates between the two economies, the American standard of living is ahead of and pulling away from that of Sweden. Those are the facts homie.

[WesternCulture]

“And what’s more, is given the difference in the growth rates between the two economies, the American standard of living is ahead of and pulling away from that of Sweden.”

- You seem to be confusing Scandinavian/Swedish economic growth rates with those of Europe at large.

Sweden has enjoyed much healthier levels of growth than large European countries like France, Italy and Germany the last 15 years.

Presently, the Swedish GDP is growing at a pace well over 4% on an annual basis while the US economy is not.

All the same, the US economy is still looking very good despite the recent slowdown.

[tomjohn77]

I think you are wrong. Swedish living standard is the same as in the US. At least the standard of houses are for the most part better on average. I have lived in the US for 4 years and I am from Norway. I have also been to Sweden many times because I live close to the border