1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser

How Does the U.S. Compare to Other Countries? Not Too Well, According to Some Metrics

by Robert Quigley | 10:13 am, February 23rd, 2011

The USA may still lead the world in GDP and rank highly in such stats as population and human development index, but its lag in other key categories is alarming. You’ve heard about the education gap, but did you know that U.S. students’ math scores are among the lowest in the developed world? Charles M. Blow and the New York Times put together this infographic comparing the U.S. to other countries by 9 key metrics: The U.S. comes in at “worst of the worst” in four categories and “worst” in two more, with zero “best” rankings.

Check out Blow’s op-ed on what it all means.

(NYT via GOOD)

  • Jackbondnj16

    Income inequality? Sounds like a Socialist term.

  • Mlloyd

    Upon cursory inspection, I saw a variation in the quantity of blocks assigned to the “best”, “worst” and “worst of the worst”. Then I noted the “food insecurity” classification as pretty soft. For example, I couldn’t afford to buy truffles for my filet mignon last August. Am I counted there?

    In short, this is a flawed presentation. As they say: “Selective statistics can be used to prove anything”

  • Mlloyd

    Upon cursory inspection, I saw a variation in the quantity of blocks assigned to the “best”, “worst” and “worst of the worst”. Then I noted the “food insecurity” classification as pretty soft. For example, I couldn’t afford to buy truffles for my filet mignon last August. Am I counted there?

    In short, this is a flawed presentation. As they say: “Selective statistics can be used to prove anything”

  • Eunichman

    The very fact that you lacked truffles for your filet mignon is counted in… if you consider that no matter what level of income you are in, your ability to provide food at YOUR level of income and comfort has been calculated in. Does it matter that your truffles would feed an impoverished nation’s children for a week? no. Does it matter that this is the first time it’s happened and not a daily occurrance? yes

  • MC1s22

    Almost all (perhaps all) of the countries on that list are far more ethnically homogeneous than the US.  Furthermore, the previously mentioned are white or asian-dominated nations with few having significant  non – white/asian sub-populations.  We have a HUGE black and brown handicap which is the primary reason we scored so low in most of these categories.  Go ahead and call me a racist for pointing out the obvious, unavoidable truth.   


Abrams Media Network click here for advertising opportunities

© 2012 Geekosystem, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram