Japan has done an excellent job on health care, but Japanese housing costs are significantly higher on average than those in the US. Along with a huge and grow

Japan has done an excellent job on health care, but Japanese housing costs are significantly higher on average than those in the US. Along with a huge and growing underclass of freeters and other workers who cannot land the shrinking number of corporate positions, housing costs are why Japan is famous for "parasite singles". Nonetheless, even those living below the poverty level are less likely to carry personal debt than Americans. Another problem with attributing American saving habits to health care or schooling costs is that Americans had a high propensity for debt even 30 years ago when those costs were much lower. Cultural differences are a driving factor.