>How happy are they working that extra 25%? They are richer, sure. But I don't think being rich is an indicator of your overall state.
They aren't that richer either -- if anything the majority is less rich in standard of living than most western European and nordic countries. Getting some more money in your salary is not worth much if you have to give most of it to medical coverage and basic services.
Actually, standard of living is pretty heavily tied with gdp per capita, but I'm pretty sure we are talking about which country is richer not standard of living.
How so? If you take a "cake" of 100 units, let 99 people share 1, and give 1 to 1 person. Then most people have 1/99 units. If your cake is 85, and you give everyone an equal share, everyone has a 85/99 units. Now, the situation in Europe is probably more like having 2 people split 60 units out of 85 - but that still leaves "the rest" way a head of those that only get 1/99...
First of all, GDP and GDP per capita != standard of living.
Even regarding GDP per capita, most the "few exceptions" you mention that trump the US are western European and nordic countries with the exception of #4 Qatar.
1 Luxembourg 102,717
2 Switzerland 80,603
3 Norway 74,598
5 Ireland 61,206
6 United States 56,084 <---
7 Singapore 52,888
8 Denmark 52,139
9 Australia 51,181
10 Iceland 50,277
11 Sweden 50,050
And don't think that a 10% change in GDP per capita (like e.g. from USA to Sweden) means much in terms of standards of living -- there's the distribution of this GDP, the organization of everyday life, work standards, state services, etc.
They aren't that richer either -- if anything the majority is less rich in standard of living than most western European and nordic countries. Getting some more money in your salary is not worth much if you have to give most of it to medical coverage and basic services.