Most Americans in comparison have to pay exorbitant prices for basic amenities that are offered for nearly free in even other parts of the West. Beyond just healthcare (which is pretty huge to dismiss) you seemingly are also dismissing the fact that there are massive homelessness issues in every major American city and that is a near non-existant issue in China despite double the poopulation.
I know and these are much better represented by other data points. The data set that OP posted is pretty meaningless by itself
Comparing net worth by itself is like comparing income and then claiming America is better to live in than Western Europe because Americans make more money, or that somebody making 60k USD in USA is living a better life than somebody making 40k USD in ChinA
I think the point was less so to prove that the terms mean anything but to reverse it on neoliberals who constantly cite GDP and spending power as hallmarks of Western superiority. This forces them to acknowledge that it isn’t a “gotcha” anymore (never was ofc) and that they can’t just dismiss any argument about China for that reason. This mostly applies to the whole “new world order” types of neolibs that gripe about how China trades.
I know and these are much better represented by other data points. The data set that OP posted is pretty meaningless by itself
Comparing net worth by itself is like comparing income and then claiming America is better to live in than Western Europe because Americans make more money, or that somebody making 60k USD in USA is living a better life than somebody making 40k USD in ChinA
I see your point, agreed.
I think the point was less so to prove that the terms mean anything but to reverse it on neoliberals who constantly cite GDP and spending power as hallmarks of Western superiority. This forces them to acknowledge that it isn’t a “gotcha” anymore (never was ofc) and that they can’t just dismiss any argument about China for that reason. This mostly applies to the whole “new world order” types of neolibs that gripe about how China trades.