Posted on 10/22/2015 6:49:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Americans have long been fascinated with global rankings. Where do we stand? How do we compare with other nations? We like to imagine ourselves as No. 1: the national equivalent of the racing halfback who raises his forefinger as he crosses the goal line. Common sense says otherwise.
We excel in some things and not in others. The latest evidence of this comes from a massive report that collected indicators on a wide range of well-being - from incomes to leisure time - for most advanced countries.
On some indicators, the United States does rank No. 1. Average after-tax household income (including both cash and non-cash government transfers) totals about $40,000; Norway is next highest at nearly $35,000.
Among 29 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average is $27,630.
But America is also near the top in income inequality; this means that middle-class Americans don't do quite as well as the average suggests.
What do Americans get with their extra income? More housing, for starters.
In both the United States and Canada, the average house has nearly 2.5 rooms per person, substantially higher than the OECD average of about 1.7. Italy, South Korea and Estonia have less than 1.5.
Although U.S homes are larger than their foreign counterparts, Americans spend less of their incomes on housing (about 17%) than most other nationalities. The OECD average is about 20%.
The global data confirm the American stereotype as workaholics.
About one in eight U.S. workers report they regularly spend more than 50 hours a week on the job. In Europe, the ratio is usually less than one in 20. In the Netherlands, it plunges to one in 250.
By the same token, Americans devote less time to "leisure and personal care," including sleep, than most Europeans.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearmarkets.com ...
Yes. We are number one.
No country has more debt and more illegal aliens than U.S.
Damn right!
Our SJW indignation mobs are second to none! Boycott! Silence! Bully! Threaten!
Is America Still #1? Maybe Not
Funny, the article seems to suggest otherwise.
Comparing America to Europe is like comparing
America to a a pile of crap. Should we thank
Samuelson for the insult? I think not.
“No country has more debt and more illegal aliens than U.S.”
Prove it.
We are becoming a nation off illegals. How can we still be on top?
All this, and we provide virtually one hundred percent of the defense for all Western nations.
Easy. Name one country that does.
President Ovomit neither believes in American exceptionalism or in maintaining the US as a superpower. Actually the whole thing embarrasses him and that is why he has handed the scepter to Russia's Putin.
If Shrilliary Clinton is elected, it's all over for the USA...
we start rebuilding in about 16 months......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.