No State Is An Island

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/01/comparing_us_states_countries

The Economist published this interesting article where they take the GDP of each US state and give us a nation to which it matches. It's pretty mindblowing that my home state of Indiana is on par with Thailand. The real surprise is that California = Italy while Texas = Russia. Freakin' Russia. Yes, Russia has seen better days but that's still astonishing.

I suppose this is a strong sign of the way in which the US population and economy is moving south and southeast. The Carolinas can match 2nd tier European nations. Pretty impressive. And, as always, the US can count on Mississippi to bring us shame no matter what.

Comments

[telemann.livejournal.com]

I'd guess North Carolina's economy is strong due to banking (Charlotte), agriculture (everywhere in the state), pharma and high tech (RTP), and naturally a very strong tourism business.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Mississippi: lowest per capita spent on education, highest per capita gun ownership.

Also, if California was a separate country, it would be the world's 6th largest economy, or at least that's what I've read elsewhere.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

I heard it being regularly dubbed the world's 7th economy. At least Arnie used to say so.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

You see, that's something I don't get. Check this out:

- Austria has about the same population and GDP of GA.
- Austria has one of THE BEST health care systems in the world, with a state-compulsory health insurance system that all citizens have to pay in to and that covers 99% of the population. It's very decentralized and encourages hospitals and doctors to be in private practice. Private insurance is available as a supplement. It's a good mix between our profit-based system and other countries' national health. The Austrian citizenry love it.
- Austria's economy is currently gangbusters and even at their worst since WW2, they've never had problems with overruns on the health costs.

So why can't GA have the same set up? Not even the USA, just GA itself. Same amount of people, same amount of GDP, easier geography. You'd think it could be done.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

America is a terribly unhealthy place to live.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Culture/Society.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

The short answer is that Georgia doesn't want it.

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,3746,en_2649_34533_45142012_1_1_1_1,00.html

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Hehe, Mississippi is even located in a similar position like Bangladesh - south-eastern corner of the southern seaboard, at the mouth of a big river, is often flooded by monsoons typhoons, and is populated by... interesting people. :-)

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Also, WOW I'm now officially from Rhode Island! :D

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Shame on you, Maine! You're on par with that speck of a country, Luxembourg.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Yeah but Maine is mainly populated by deer. Luxembourg is populated by perfumed powdered Euro poodles with fancy names and carrying files with documents under their arms.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

I propose that each state adopts the legislation of their matching country. It would be glorious!

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

As a New Yorker, I approve this message.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

Russia has seen better days for sure.

1950 - Russia GDP = 1/3 USA GDP
1973 - Russia GDP = 1/2 USA GDP
2003 - Russia GDP = 1/7 USA GDP
Now - Russia GDP = 1/17 USA GDP

Anyone who still complains about Russian global hegemony should STFU right about now.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

I thought everyone was complaining about Chinese global hegemony.

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

Those are interesting numbers, can you give some references, I'm having trouble finding data. (for example, this: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html suggests that the 2009 GDP was far more than 1/17 of the US's, while this: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp-economy-gdp&date=2003 suggests that it was less than 1/7 in 2003, but the figures are so vastly different that it's hard to know what to make of them. And the fact that it was part of the USSR in '73 and '50 seems to be making it harder to find the data)

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Take comfort in the fact that around here the only people who believe nonsense like that are actual Russians who think NATO still gives a damn what they do.

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

How did Mississippi bring shame in this instance?

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Last time I checked Bangladesh's #1 product was disaster victims.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Oh God, Idaho = the Sudan? That's just... so very very sad.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

And it looks like it.

NIGERIAAAAAAAA!

[oportet.livejournal.com]

Who wants to wire me some money?

Re: NIGERIAAAAAAAA!

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

i will. but first, send me your bank account number and password...

Woohoo!

[squidb0i.livejournal.com]

Peru!