> Americans also tend to spend even if they actually do not have anything to spend. Mostly because there are some mandatory luxuries, like having a car, studen

> Americans also tend to spend even if they actually do not have anything to spend. Mostly because there are some mandatory luxuries, like having a car, student debt, health insurance, ridiculously expensive housing. Or just "the new iphone". > Americans often do not get more for spending more (see healthcare and others) so after spending they would actually often be poorer. https://randomcriticalanalysis.com/why-conventional-wisdom-on-health-care-is-wrong-a-primer/#rcatoc-diminishing-returns-to-spending-and-worse-lifestyle-factors-explain-americas-mediocre-health-outcomes https://randomcriticalanalysis.com/why-conventional-wisdom-o... > And of course there is a connection here. But you are not necessarily rich, when you spend more. By definition you are rich when you have more. I mean, the economic surplus is spent, on what is of course critical, but the vast riches produced year by year is there. As the link argues, lifestyle choices determine where that surplus is allocated to.