----- Original Message -----
From: "Marvin Long, Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 9:46 AM
Subject: RE: The Cost Of Dating (was: RE: Europe, the US, and Environmenta
lism )
> On Tue, 28 Aug 2001, Baardwijk, J. van DTO/SLBD/BGM/SVM/SGM wrote:
>
> > Problem is, you cannot just slap the exchange rate on it and draw
> > conclusions from the outcome. You must see the prices as relative to
income.
> >
> > Jan Modaal (Joe Average's Dutch cousin) earns some NLG 35,000 per year.
> > IIRC, Joe Average's income is some USD 35,000 per year (give or take a
few
> > thousand dollars). So, if a movie ticket will cost NLG 16 here and USD 7
on
> > your side of the Atlantic, going to the movies is roughly twice as
expensive
> > for me as it is for you when you see the costs as a percentage of
income.
> >
> > Your dinner for two cost you some USD 45, while dinner for two here
would
> > cost me roughly NLG 100. Seen as percentage of income, going out to
dinner
> > is more expensive for me than it is for you.
>
> Mmm, good point. I guess that's one of the benefits (for me) of living in
> a capitalist empire run by bull-buggering robber barons. :-)
>
The calculation of Joe Average's income is a bit high, because the US gives
average household income, not average personal income. So, that includes
both Joe and Joan Average's income if they are in the same household. (It
also includes both Joe and John Average's income or Joan's and Jenny
Average's income if they are in the same household. The lastest number for
mean household income in the US is $40,879 in 1999 (US census).
A better figure for comparing apples vs. apples is per capita purchasing
power. (This takes into account that the cost of housing, food, etc. varies
from country to country. As of 1999, the Neatherlands are at about 68% of
the US in purchasing power parity. They have been averaging between 60% and
75% over the last 40 years. (CIA factbook).
Dan M.
