NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/sci/econ/9936

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From: [e-mail] (Adrian Waterworth)
Newsgroups: sci.econ,soc.culture.british,soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: US as No. 1 (3 data books)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 28 Jan 93 09:56:21 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU
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Nntp-Posting-Host: warton

[e-mail] (BHATTACHARYA,ABHIJIT) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Adrian Waterworth) writes:

>From the World Almanac and Book of Facts 1993:

>Per capita GDP in U.S. dollars

>United States - 21,800
>Great Britain - 15,000
>Canada - 19,500
>Japan - 17,100
>Germany - 14,600 (the inclusion of former E. Germany reduced this somewhat)
>France - 15,500
>Ireland - 9,690
>Italy - 14,600

    OK.  Now what about GNP, Balance of Payments, National Debt (if
applicable).  They're all relevant too.  Probably along with half a
dozen other statistics that might or might not be appropriate depending
upon the phase of the moon and who is doing the assessing.

    I didn't say that the American economy wasn't healthy or
strong.  Just that there are others that are, to all practical intents
and purposes in the day-to-day life of Joe Public, equally healthy and
strong.

>There is no question that Great Britain and other developed countries have the
>same material goods as in the U.S. but they are MUCH more expensive.  I find
>from personal experience that clothing is about twice as expensive there, food
>almost as much.  Also, my friends there are surprised by the fact that my
>family has two cars, with the financial ability to buy more if needed.  Things
>which are so common here like CD players are readily available but quite
>expensive.

    I'll agree on the expensive part.  As to how much more
expensive, it depends upon the commodity.  For example (and from my
limited experience), clothing can be twice as expensive - but only if
you're buying heavily advertised (I'm tempted to say "hyped") brand
name products.  In such cases, a rather heavy "rip-off the public with
a not-too-special item, but sporting a trendy label" factor comes into
operation.  As for people being surprised that your family has two
cars, that solely depends upon the people.  Most of the folks I know,
regardless of a wide range of social standing, would not be surprised
to know of a two-car family.  Or even a three-car family.  And I'm sure
that there may be someone, somewhere in the US who would be surprised
to hear of such a thing, just as there may be someone here in the UK
surprised to hear of it.  Finally, as to the price of CD players (and
such items), they may indeed be more expensive over here, but they are
probably just as common.  (I don't have the numbers for per capita CD
player ownership, so I am once again going from my own experience.
Most of the people I know who want a CD player have one - regardless of
their social status.)

>Some British people think that the typical American family is like Roseanne's,
>which I find quite amusing.  Also, being of Indian descent, some also assume
>that none of us can speak English properly.  It has gotten markedly better
>though in the last few years.  British wit on TV is ubiquitous -- only David
>Letterman even comes close here.

    And I'm sure that some American people think that the typical
English family includes the bowler-hatted city gent, the slightly
frigid housewife and one or two bespectacled offspring with slightly
greasy hair and a tendency to say "Yoiks!", "I say!" or "Spiffing!" at
the drop of a hat (bowler or otherwise).  I find that absolutely
hilarious. The stereotypes cut both ways.

    Whatever, we all just try to do our best I guess.

            Cheers!
                Ade.

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