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0 pointstravisjungroth3y ago0 comments

> but notice how the EU is not any poorer than the USA.

EU is significantly poorer than the US. Lots of different ways to measure it, but it’s a factor of roughly 1.5-2x in purchasing power parity.

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8 comments · 3 top-level

mrtksn3y ago· 4 in thread

It’s just accounting differences. The life in Europe is not any different. If the junior developers don’t make 100K and the visit to a doctor doesn’t cost 10K the overall economic activity appears to be lower but it’s not.

thequadehunter3y ago

Just FYI for non-Americans...most Americans are insured and doctors visits don't cost 10k. Major surgeries might, but your insurance usually caps at a certain number in the 2-8k range for the whole year.

Not saying the system isn't bad, but 10k for a doctor's visit is kind of a stretch...

mrtksn3y ago

It doesn’t matter who pays for it, in the statistics it appears that an appendicitis generates much more economic activity in the USA than EU.

Healthcare spending per capita in the USA is 12K, the second most expensive is Germany and it’s 7K.

The life expectancy in Germany is 82 and in the USA is 77, so it’s not the case that Americans are getting much better one, explaining the higher costs.

Oh and that appendicitis? It kills much more Americans than Germans(0.08 vs 0.06 per 100K).

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ipatec3y ago

is not accounting differences at all: - Europeans (and I am one) live in tiny housing even compared to people in NYC. - we have less cars (you can claim it's due to public transport but if public transport is not available most people would not afford cars regardless. - overall less leisure expenditures and less disposable income.

That 10k doctor is a myth and certainly not something the 100k developer will have to pay. That's covered by his company. Healthcare is an issue in US when you're at the bottom of the food chain.

mrtksn3y ago

How many New York’s are there in the USA? Maybe NY is not the average American experience?

margorczynski3y ago· 1 in thread

The problem is that many when saying "EU" are thinking mainly Germany and other countries among the top-3/5. But even Germany is behind the US in terms of GDP/capita, PPP probably also.

namaria3y ago

Most of the US is behind the leader locations as well. And most Europeans in rich metropolises have better lives then Americans in rich metropolises. Less pollution, less traffic, more free time, more safety.

booleandilemma3y ago

I don't think this invalidates the parent's point though.

I'm just waiting for an "Ask HN: What are some job alternatives for people who know programming and can't get a job anymore since ChatGPT replaced us?"

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

8 comments · 3 top-level

mrtksn3y ago· 4 in thread

thequadehunter3y ago

Not saying the system isn't bad, but 10k for a doctor's visit is kind of a stretch...

mrtksn3y ago

It doesn’t matter who pays for it, in the statistics it appears that an appendicitis generates much more economic activity in the USA than EU.

Healthcare spending per capita in the USA is 12K, the second most expensive is Germany and it’s 7K.

The life expectancy in Germany is 82 and in the USA is 77, so it’s not the case that Americans are getting much better one, explaining the higher costs.

Oh and that appendicitis? It kills much more Americans than Germans(0.08 vs 0.06 per 100K).

1 more reply

ipatec3y ago

That 10k doctor is a myth and certainly not something the 100k developer will have to pay. That's covered by his company. Healthcare is an issue in US when you're at the bottom of the food chain.

mrtksn3y ago

How many New York’s are there in the USA? Maybe NY is not the average American experience?

margorczynski3y ago· 1 in thread

The problem is that many when saying "EU" are thinking mainly Germany and other countries among the top-3/5. But even Germany is behind the US in terms of GDP/capita, PPP probably also.

namaria3y ago

booleandilemma3y ago

I don't think this invalidates the parent's point though.

I'm just waiting for an "Ask HN: What are some job alternatives for people who know programming and can't get a job anymore since ChatGPT replaced us?"

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse