The Only Real JP Button

Sure, but I was commenting in reference to folks instinctively going "oh well it's tiny" to dismiss Japan's net superiority. It's actually larger than most of the countries on that map, so it's not as simple as that.

GDP/economy-wise, it's 3rd in the world after the European Union (1st) and the US (2nd).

Lol really counting europe as a whole? Lame. Yeah when you compare it to other countries it's decent when you compare to us which is what most people are thinking in reference too it seems small. Plus they have crazy population density for a country with that much development and technology. Really just a matter of perception

Given it's all one currency and economic development zone, yes. Otherwise it would be like counting all the US states as different economies. That's how Wikipedia and most economists do it.

Not really the same. US has been having the same currency and most the same laws government agencies etc the same for years. European countries are still completely different countries even if they have the same currency. Though I suppose it would be easier to do it that way. Doesn't really seem fair from a competetive point of view though

Jaerik, you did compare the difference in size between the U.S. economy and Japan's right?

1 United States 14,441,425USD
2 Japan 4,910,692USD

Did you just move to Japan or something? Yes it's Internet is fast at the moment... Japanese citizens really aren't interested in that. The general cost of living in Japan is much higher than the U.S. And Japan is notoriously recession prone. The public finally got fed up w/ the LDP last fall and voted them out of office. 50 years of (almost) continuous rule put to an end. Hopefully the newly elected Democratic party does better.

We American's are so spoiled... it's why we *** about everything. Wanna know what's more important atm, Health care. The U.S. health care system is expensive. REALLY expensive. Sure it's great if you can afford it. But compared to every other wealthy nation in the world the U.S. system sucks.