In 1950 America’s life expectancy was in the world’s top ten; it is now 30th.
On average, Chileans can expect to live longer than the average American, even though GDP per person is about a quarter of America’s. A Cuban male has a better chance of surviving until 65 than an American male, even though GDP per capita in the US is about eight times Cuba’s.
The figures suggest Americans have, on average, traded longevity for higher incomes over the past 50 years.
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