Why united states is the best country

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Key Takeaways The U. While the United States is much larger than its northern neighbor in terms of GDP, the average income per capita is similar in both places. While people generally pay more in taxes in the United States, Canada offers superior social benefits. The cost of attending a university and expenses for healthcare are typically less in Canada. Article Sources.

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts.

We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy. Compare Accounts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the US fares just about average among OECD countries when it comes to basic literacy and problem solving skills. Advanced literacy pdf, p. Gender equality is a point where the US does relatively well.

The US also reports a high level of perceived safety by women walking home on their own. However, the share of US women who experience violence in their lifetime is much higher than the OECD average though reporting violence in some countries may be discouraged.

To top it off, the gender wage gap is also bigger in the US. The US is also, with Lesotho, one of only two countries in the world that do not mandate paid maternity leave.

Despite the much-discussed need to bring jobs back to the US, there are plenty of jobs in the country. Employment is one of the parameters in which the US does better than many other advanced economies, with low unemployment, high employment, and low share of youth who are neither working nor studying. The US also does remarkably well in employing immigrants. That the US needs better infrastructure is a bipartisan belief of late.

As Barack Obama did before him, Donald Trump has highlighted the dire state of American transportation infrastructure, and promised massive investment in that respect. The US is also one of the countries with the highest number of deaths resulting from car accidents. Research Topics. Share this link:.

Laura Thorsett is a former intern focusing on U. Jocelyn Kiley is an associate director of research at Pew Research Center. Sign up for our weekly newsletter Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings.

Most Americans think the U. Younger Americans more likely than older adults to say there are other countries that are better than the U. Americans say U. People in Norway live to be upwards of eighty-two years old, on average.

The UN attributes this wonderful statistic to the healthcare system that is in place in Norway. Norwegians are covered by a healthcare system funded by the general public, so unlike places such as the United States , residents of Norway receive healthcare and medical attention no matter what. It is not a burden or a privilege for people in Norway to get the professional help and annual checkups that are so necessary for overall health, leading to a higher life expectancy overall.

Ireland is an amazing place to live because it is one of the safest countries around the world. The levels of criminal activity in Ireland are lower than ever, and the prevalence of homicidal behavior is at a bare minimum. The health of people who live in Switzerland is outrageously impressive. People in Switzerland live to be about eighty-three years old. Switzerland is a prime example of how taking care of yourself will result in wondrous things, but this is a privilege that not all countries award their citizens.

Hong Kong is a major international financial center with a high quality of life. Additionally, like many of the other countries on this list, Hong Kong has very low crime rates despite being a very densely populated urban area. Many believe that Hong Kong is the perfect blend of East and West cultures with colonial buildings, temples, and ancient traditions and festivals living side-by-side with modern public transportation and tall glass skyscrapers.

Iceland bodes well in terms of life expectancy and healthcare accessibility. The average lifetime of citizens in Iceland is around 83 years of age. There are still some places around the world where people do not live beyond forty years old, so Iceland is impressive for having a life expectancy of nearly double that of other countries.