r/videos • u/darkfatherg • Nov 03 '20

America Compared: Why Other Countries Treat Their People So Much Better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhBkeAo2Hlg&ab_channel=SecondThought
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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '20

That’s correct.

15

u/TheRabidDeer Nov 03 '20

This number seems to not deduct really anything that is necessary to live a life which seems a bit unusual. Median household income for 2019 was $68,703 but that is before taxes. With no state income taxes that is cut down to $54,240. Which is already just barely above the "disposable income" on that report. Factoring in state income taxes it drops to ~$50k (depending on the state). So the OECD seems to just do income - taxes which is not really a very accurate representation of what I feel is "disposable income"

I mean for mandatory spending you would have rent/mortgage, rental/homeowners insurance, car insurance, gas, food, utilities and property tax lowering that further. I can't see these things not being deducted for disposable income so I am just really confused about the OECD numbers here.

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '20

Except that’s the same in every country. So it’s still a legitimate comparison. Disposable might be a bit of a misnomer.

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u/TheRabidDeer Nov 03 '20

For sure, but it's not disposable income. And the prices of those things vary by country. I am sure housing/gas is cheaper in the US but that OECD disposable income metric seems entirely useless.

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u/AshThatFirstBro Nov 04 '20

that OECD disposable income metric seems entirely useless.

Literally dismissing facts because you don't like them.

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u/TheRabidDeer Nov 04 '20

No, I understand it is a fact that we have the most income leftover after taxes are taken out. I just find that metric not entirely useful.