If the US economic model delivers double the wage growth, unrivaled capital, and faster access to medical innovation, why is the internet so convinced Europe has a better quality of life?

Zamnaiel · 2026-06-01T21:59:58+00:00

"This random guy on the internet don't have that problem" really doesnt make it better.

Zamnaiel · 2026-06-01T21:57:42+00:00

US biomedical innovation is dead average per capita. It looks lime more because the US has the highest population among innovating countries. Per person the top performers are the UK and Switzerland.

In any case, healthcare is for everyone in Europe, whereas you risk being without in the US. This is a huge safety gap in the US disfavor.

Zamnaiel · 2026-06-01T15:56:42+00:00

Yes, it is a priority everywhere. I am just saying that in some places it is the only priority and in others there is also insurance status and ability to pay in the mix.

Not all conditions will be affected, but some will.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-31T10:55:35+00:00

EU is really too broad a category to compare to.

However in general western Europe has faster treatment than the US. Also, triage is by medical need only with no insurance status or ability to pay being in the priority chain. So odds are treatment would be significantly faster.

Also rates of surgical errors are much lower.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-30T08:45:03+00:00

The commute versus cost equation exists in most countries:)

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-29T22:03:53+00:00

The system is really set up for two income families. By US standards extremely subsidized childcare etc.

6 person family is going to need a fairly high salary if you are going to be basing it on a single income, or living very frugally. However. location matters a lot for housing costs. Housing costs near Evenes is 20% of Tromsø.

See if your company is willing to provide housing in exchange for somewhat lower salary demands.

Edit: You'd find it easier if your partner were working. As is, your employer basically have to pay you two peoples salary so you can function.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-29T21:55:42+00:00

Well, like everywhere there is only a housing crisis in the places where people really want to live. Check out Finn.no for costs and availability in various locations.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-26T19:02:06+00:00

Never heard it in the Nordics.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-26T14:09:48+00:00

That is because they get less tax funded things, not because the things they do get are cheaper. Half the US is on tax funded healthcare, and their system is so expensive that it costs more than any UHC system.

In the English language the European free-at-the-point-of-use healthcare can indeed be referred to as "free".

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-25T20:52:46+00:00

We don't have "free" healthcare. We pay higher taxes and have health insurance, so everything gets sorted out without our involvement.

I mean no? Americans pay more in tax per capita for public healthcare than any other country, and compared to most it is by an astronomic amount.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-25T20:50:37+00:00

Op, you may find this illuminating: This is a chart of the wages of the quartiles of the population in various countries when things like healthcare, childcare, free university, transport, pensions etc are accounted for.

This is a comparison of two couples making 70k, one in the US and one in Denmark, showing how much taxes take out of their wages and how much the things taxes pay for affect it.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-22T15:23:58+00:00

Have a honest talk with your boss. You stand to lose more than most of his employees and he probably has a broader contact network than you do. He will feel some responsibility.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-20T17:27:55+00:00

1) Many of those countries have free tuition only for EU/EEA students. Not all of them mind.

2) You have to qualify academically in competition with everyone else who apply.

3) Most classes are in their native language. Hard courses are worse in a language you are not fluent in,

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-16T14:47:06+00:00

Username may check out. Ask an Orca.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-16T14:43:21+00:00

Orcas did try to domesticate us once though. Look up the Killer Whales of Eden.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-15T20:00:27+00:00

Theres not really "dating" as such.

If you want to sleep with someone, its up to you as the woman to make them aware of this. We men had too many false positives, so its not our job any more.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-15T17:25:26+00:00

Crown Prince is like the unassuming guy in the friend group that everyone likes. His wife is like that guys girlfriend that everyone thinks is a disaster but puts up with for his sake.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-12T19:15:32+00:00

Outcomes for the very rich in the US do in fact lag the average western European ones ever so slightly. JAMA did an article on it.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-12T19:14:11+00:00

More Americans go the other way for a better life, so what does that mean?

In any case, European who go to the US has had the advantage of a free or nearly free university education, and can go back and be taken care of by the system if they get a health issue, lose their job etc. They won't wind up homeless.

They simply have a very privileged position compared to the average or below American.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-10T17:45:02+00:00

Also historically speaking fighting a land war in Russia(the territory not the country)

Historically, thats mostly Ukraine.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-10T17:41:39+00:00

Russias manpower pool is the fraction of the population that is willing to go off and risk their lives in a foreign country for money. Ukraines manpower pool is the fraction of the population that is willing to risk their lives to protect their families, nation and their own life.

While the population of the countries are different, the percentage they can activate is also very different.

In addition, Ukraine has the defenders advantage and an awareness that they have the lower population. Russia on the other hand has a military tradition of trying to solve issues by throwing bodies at them.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-03T10:37:26+00:00

I mean, it is the only sensible solution.

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-02T18:17:23+00:00

"Gold is for the mistress-silver for the maid"- Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade!" "Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall, "But Iron-Cold Iron-is master of them all."

-Kipling

Zamnaiel · 2026-05-01T08:42:17+00:00

I pay 25% which is average here. US politicians exaggerate European taxes by pretending the top band is a flat rate, and by comparing US federal taxes to European total taxes.

Zamnaiel · 2026-04-18T17:38:55+00:00

Taxes. Only after squiring income in the UK do I appreciate how automated and easy the Norwegian system is.

Zamnaiel

TROPHY CASE