[friendlygrammar]

GDP per capita in the US is more than 25% greater than Europe.

[billmalarky]

And how is that GDP distributed again?

[ryandrake]

Which has what to do with standard of living?

[friendlygrammar]

Actually, standard of living is pretty heavily tied with gdp per capita, but I'm pretty sure we are talking about which country is richer not standard of living.

[jacquesm]

Only if the GDP is spread out equally. Income in-equality is a fine way to mask poverty in spite of a huge GDP.

[e12e]

How so? If you take a "cake" of 100 units, let 99 people share 1, and give 1 to 1 person. Then most people have 1/99 units. If your cake is 85, and you give everyone an equal share, everyone has a 85/99 units. Now, the situation in Europe is probably more like having 2 people split 60 units out of 85 - but that still leaves "the rest" way a head of those that only get 1/99...

[ionised]

GDP is heavily skewed towards the wealthy and big business.

It's borderline useless for determining the wellbeing of the average worker.