subject: Where Does The U.s. Fit In? [print this page] The U.S. is below average in the relative number of workers ages 25-34 with degrees in STEM fields, such as math and science. There are approximately 1,472 math and science graduates for every 100,000 of these workers. That's according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's 2009 data. Korea is first on the list of 31 member countries, followed by New Zealand and France. The U.S. is 24th. Hungary is last. Because research shows innovation depends on how many workers have STEM degrees, many countries import talented graduates from other countries to do - among other things - "stem cell" research.
Happily, the U.S. is below average in taxes paid by its workers. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development compared taxes for a typical wage earner in 34 member countries. In the U.S. about 29% went toward taxes in 2011. Workers of 25 countries paid more. Workers in Belgium, Germany, Hungary and France paid about 50%. However, workers in 8 countries paid less. Workers in Chile, New Zealand and Mexico paid about 7%. One reason American workers pay a comparably low percentage is because the U.S. doesn't have compulsory health care - which is a "taxing" thought for many Americans.
Zurich is the world's most expensive city. According to the 2012 global survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Zurich replaced Tokyo, which had been first for 20 years and is now second. It seems the rising cost of living in Switzerland and Japan is due to their strengthening economies. Geneva and Osaka tied for third. Oslo was fourth and Paris was fifth. Hard as it may be to believe, the U.S. didn't have 1 city in the top 10. New York City - the most expensive U.S. city - was ranked fifteenth - making a bite of the "Big Apple" seem more affordable.
South Korea has the most plastic surgery - that is when it's calculated by percentage of population. Based on 2010 data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery liposuction, rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery) are the most popular procedures in South Korea. Greece, where breast augmentation is the most popular, is second. Third is Italy and there liposuction was performed the most. Breast augmentation tied with liposuction to make Brazil fourth and cosmetic tourism made Columbia fifth. The U.S., where breast augmentation was a close second to liposuction, was sixth. Maybe we are getting "nip and tuckered out".
