The value of benefits isn’t takin into account. Health care is a huge driver of inequality in the US. Tens of millions of you get minimal health care, and even many on health care plans only qualify for a fraction of the treatments Europeans take for granted. Education is another example. Overall the US system is fine, but the funding model is appallingly uneven with the majority of public funds ending up going to schools in wealthy areas. The national funding and provision models in Europe are far more egalitarian and, as with health care, much more efficient.
Even so, there’s still a legitimate gap in the US favour here. That can’t be denied. Arguably what Europeans get in return is peace of mind and a society that has their back. They know that whatever happens to them, they will get decent health care, their kids will get a decent education, and they’re more likely to get fair treatment from their employer.
And as a former manager once told me, 'one needs the constant fear of homelessness to keep workers in line'. That is the real engine of innovation /s
I mean clearly the US is still a very innovative economy, it’s not like everyone is constantly in fear of starvation any second. But still, I don’t see how fear promotes innovation. There are many economic and societal factors in the US that promote risk taking and innovation, but fear of hunger in oppressed workers isn’t one of them.
Second, the OECD adjusts for differences in government transfers like healthcare and education.
That’s exactly my point. For “not skewed by” read “reveal the fact that”. Neither averages nor medians tell you much about the shape of the distribution, but the shape does matter.
Also you’re missing my point about education and health care completely. Yes the OECD accounts for their value overall, but that value is very unevenly distributed in the US. Much more so than in Europe. I also made a point about quality as against just spending.
"Information is also presented including social transfers in kind, such as health or education provided for free or at reduced prices by governments and not-for-profit organisations."
That is true. Personally and anecdotally I find that to be a good thing. I feel much more comfortable with 35h work week, 35 days of paid vacation making €60k without living in the fear of getting fired the next day.
Even if I could get more money in the US, I highly doubt that my standard of living would increase enough to justify the uncertainty that would come with this move. And I think that difference is even more extreme with jobs that don’t require years of education beforehand.
Americans are still making 25% more than Western European counterparts.
As another commenter has pointed out, median doesn’t tell the story accurately when it’s being pushed largely by incredibly disproportionate growth in top 10% of earners.
I love my Union, and I’ll grant you that Unions aren’t universally good due to people being shitty but I wholly believe in Unions and hope more people organize. It is the only meaningful way for labor to get what they deserve.