Live data from Hacker News

The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

twitter.com

51–60 of 767 posts

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#52
post #33

And yet with all that money you can’t buy European quality of life in the USA

The US is great as long as you are not poor. You don't have to be rich, just don't be poor.

And if you are poor and United States, just don't be to disorganized to be able to make use of all the government programs to support you.

Sadly, there are a large number of people who cannot do that whether from drugs, trauma, natural inability, etc.

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#54
post #46

IMHO the west as a whole will need to re-consider its metrics. Europe, not only Eurozone, lag in absolute numbers of economic activity but the life quality is not that different from the US and arguably it’s even better depending on what is important for you. An appendicitis generates more economic activity in the US but Europeans die les from it. On the other hand, Europe does lag on post soviet era tech(that’s anyt…

The existing metrics are already the fairest.

i.e. Life expectancy, work length, income, spending, etc.

Metrics has to be objectively measurable, otherwise they would have a huge subjective bias. Some people can be happy and enjoy life in almost any circumstances - but that is much harder to measure across societies and you'll end up with scams like "happiest country on Earth".

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#55
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UK was never in the Eurozone.

This is about the European Union, of which the UK was a part, not the Eurozone (where they use the Euro as currency).

The chart in the linked tweet labels it Eurozone.[0]

[0]: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F1P4FUgWAAIMWAd?format=jpg&name=...

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#57
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about: - Your access to mRNA vaccines - Your access to cleaner air due to electric car adoption - Ditto for energy security and renewable sources of electricity - Your chance of dying in a car going down due to new safety features - Your access to crazy advanced cancer treatments that are making progress at almost miraculous paces - Your much improved ability to work from home, cutting out ~2 hours of commuting…

The world is dramatically better, but it already was dramatically better 10 years ago, and in the developed countries a lot of those improvements stagnated or are slowly rolling back due to stagnant wages, insane costs of living etc.

The world is getting almost noticeably better by the day - due to all the progress people make every day, building on top of past progress.

If you're staying "stagnant" and the world is getting better, you're better off.

Even if you're declining, you can be better off.

If you think poor people in the US and Europe have it rough today, you should read up about what it was like to be a normal person in the 1600s in Europe.

If you think poor people have it rough today in California, you should read up on what it was like being poor in California in the 80s and 90s.

Etc.

The average lower middle class family today has it better off than nobility in the 1700s.

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#58
post #41

And yet with all that money you can’t buy European quality of life in the USA

you can move to europe, buy real estate easily and live above the local's means because US income is so much higher. In fact thousands of americans are doing it in the past few years EDIT: Also, a large part of "quality of life" has more to do with the structure of european country populations. They are old , cohesive and mostly conformist societies that tend to help each other in times of need, something that the US…

Where buy estate easily? Somewhere on Belarus border? Or on Adriatic see shore? I mean Europe is big and economic differences really huge.

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#59
post #5

All “growth” in gdp seems to go to rich people. Normal people have seen stagnant wages and increased costs from the owners. Why should I care if gdp isn’t increasing when I don’t see any gains whether it does or not?

What about: - Your access to mRNA vaccines - Your access to cleaner air due to electric car adoption - Ditto for energy security and renewable sources of electricity - Your chance of dying in a car going down due to new safety features - Your access to crazy advanced cancer treatments that are making progress at almost miraculous paces - Your much improved ability to work from home, cutting out ~2 hours of commuting…

These are technology developments, not GDP. Of course, technology developments are part of why GDP grows, but it's possible for tech to improve for everyone while only a minority reaps the economic gains.

Re: The US economy and the EU were the same size in 2008, the US is now nearly 2X

#60
post #58
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can move to europe, buy real estate easily and live above the local's means because US income is so much higher. In fact thousands of americans are doing it in the past few years EDIT: Also, a large part of "quality of life" has more to do with the structure of european country populations. They are old , cohesive and mostly conformist societies that tend to help each other in times of need, something that the US…

Where buy estate easily? Somewhere on Belarus border? Or on Adriatic see shore? I mean Europe is big and economic differences really huge.

all over the south is where people prefer. For americans, it s cheap
Post reply on HN