We all know that the United States is the most unequal of the
rich nations of the world. Only relatively poor countries like
Malaysia and Mexico have levels of inequality similar to those
in the United States. All of the rich countries of western
Europe and east Asia have much lower levels of inequality than
we do. The real situation, however, is worse than the income
data would suggest. Data on income inequality only tell half the
story. The differences in the ways people live are only partly
determined by income. They’re also determined by the levels of
government services provided to everyone. This is most obvious
when it comes to healthcare. In the rest of the developed world,
everyone has health insurance. Depending how you count, about a
quarter of working-age Americans don’t. Real inequalities in
health coverage are even greater, since the richest Americans
tend to have the best insurance. Healthcare is only the
beginning. In the European Union, everyone is guaranteed at
least four weeks’ paid vacation