Monday, September 15, 2008
Who Spends What
by
The world’s free market economy still depends on spending to make the wheels turn. The New York Times had an interesting story and interactive graph recently that shows a visual comparison of spending by the world’s major (economic) countries. It makes you realize how large the U.S. economy ranks in five major categories:
• Clothing and footwear
• Electronics
• Alcohol and tobacco
• Household goods
• Recreation
There are all sorts of interesting comparisons, but I found it enlightening that Japan and Canada spend as much on alcohol and tobacco as they do on clothing and footwear, while the U.S. spends twice as much on clothing and footwear than they do on alcohol and tobacco. Could it be the advertising restrictions in the U.S. against booze and cigarettes are actually working?
Thanks to the PSFK blog for the point.
