Do socialist or capitalist countries have a better quality of life?

[msc545]

This study compared capitalist and socialist countries in measures of the physical quality of life (PQL), taking into account the level of economic development. The World Bank was the principal source of statistical data, which pertained to 123 countries and approximately 97 percent of the world's population. PQL variables included indicators of health, health services, demographic conditions, and nutrition (infant mortality rate, child death rate, life expectancy, crude death rate, crude birth rate, population per physician, population per nursing person, and daily per capita calorie supply); measures of education (adult literacy rate, enrollment in secondary education, and enrollment in higher education); and a composite PQL index. All PQL measures improved as economic development increased. In 30 of 36 comparisons between countries at similar levels of economic development, socialist countries showed more favorable PQL outcomes (p less than.05 by two-tailed t-test). This work with the World Bank's raw data included cross-tabulations, analysis of variance, and regression techniques, which all confirmed the same conclusions. The data indicated that the socialist countries generally have achieved better PQL outcomes than the capitalist countries at equivalent levels of economic development.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2430906/

[MisterWack]

Well when we look at the definitions:

Socialist Theory according to Oxford Languages is: “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”

Capitalist System according to Oxford Languages is: “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.”

Now my opinion: A well regulated Capitalist System works best for a better quality of life. This is where the rich can keep their wealth, flaunt their wealth, and also grow their wealth though competition can flourish, the average Joe can afford a house, car, and raising a family without economic worries also can afford food without fears corporate entities will falsely raise the price for an inflation that isn’t there. By continuing the trend of supporting billionaires, doing free PR for their business, and listening to media puppets doing their bidding we keep slipping our freedoms & rights & flexibility.

The thing of it is, China and Russia are filled with Socialism and terrible corrupt leadership. Our country though can be better and improve, Capitalism isn’t a perfect system the same way Socialism isn’t a perfect theory. It takes ideas coming from both to correct the mistakes to help uplift communities & help uplift small business owners.

[jshm2]

Hardly surprising. But what they mean by "socialist" is not what Americans consider "socialist"

[Anonymous]

They used to but lookat countries like france, Sweden and Germany. Things are getting worse and worse. There's a reason right parties are on the rise in socialist countries.

[msc545]

Provide data.

[slatyb]

Worse and worse? In what way? Things are getting measurably worse in the US judging by the number of handgun deaths, both homicidal and suicidal.

[Opinion Owner]

@slatyb yes poverty does that. You only have to look at the case of that Jordan Neely guy, he was allowed to roam free for four years assaulting women on the subway between the democrat soft on crime DA refused to prosecute guys like him yet went after the heroic penny

[Anonymous]

No country has ever succeeded under socialism/communism so that is a pretty easy answer.

[msc545]

Provide data, and define "succeed".

[Sevenpointfive]

yeah. that's probably true. but it's hard to have any sort of positive growth in a socialist economy. i would say it's regressive and leads to another idea economy-fixed society.

[DryGermanGuy]

As German I say it's about the right mixture. Purism/extremism never does much good.

[exitseven]

If socialism is so great why do millions of people from 200 different countries want to come the the USA?

There is a lot to be said for personal responsibility. Humans thrive on the challenge.

[msc545]

Hey hey hey stop it stop it. Stop it

[msc545]

Oops cat fight

[msc545]

Anyway, because there is a persistent myth, originated and promulgated by the media in the US that the US somehow is a glorious place full of freedom and opportunities for prosperity. Nothing could be further from the truth, but people in other countries tend to believe these things. They find out different when they get here.

[exitseven]

@msc545 I bet if Trump did not win the election there would be at least another 20 million coming to America where the streets are paved with gold.

[msc545]

Most people are not stupid enough to deliberately come to a place where a mentally ill criminal is in charge.

[exitseven]

@msc545 most illegal aliens will not come to a place where there is is no free everything and know they will be arrested and deported.

[msc545]

Nothing in the US is free.

[exitseven]

not for you and me but 20 million people will disagree.

[Pterodon]

Capitalist

[msc545]

Provide data.

[Pterodon]

I don’t see anyone trying to illegally immigrate to socialist countries

[msc545]

You aren't looking.

[slatyb]

That's because you aren't looking. Europe has been flooded with migrants.

[Pterodon]

@slatyb not like us

[slatyb]

Yes, like us.