They actually have decent amounts of entrepreneurship relative to their populations, a higher average living standard than the US, longer life expectancy, far less crime, all despite having nearly no resources.  Oh, and more equality.  But GDP&#x2F;total wealth is all that matters, right?<p>And a little note on HDI (used to measure quality of life&#x2F;human development) - its skewed in favour of the US because it measures average income, not taking into account the fact Americans pay extra for health care while Europeans include it in taxes&#x2F;exclude it from income calculations.  Even then several Euro states beat the US.