Do U.S. citizens realize their country is being surpassed?

A team led by Michael Porter, a professor at the Harvard Business School as well as the most cited scholar in both economics and business ever, just released a new Social Progress Index for 2014. Michael Porter claims that this study is to measure the quality of life dimensions of a society, and to capture them using research pulled from some of the best data in the world. The surprising outcome? The United States ranks considerably low in the study.

Although social progress is a broad concept, there is a great deal to learn and improve upon with the results that are given through this scientific test. The U.S. currently ranks number one in military spending and has the highest GDP in the world, however, in categories laid out in the new Social Progress Index the U.S. falls very short from being the best. Categories like basic human needs, foundations of well-being, and opportunity were all measured and it seems the U.S. is just not delivering.

An example, our health care budget is the most expensive in our world's history, yet in terms of the actual outcome in the category "health and wellness", for the average American citizen the U.S. is ranked number 70; falling short behind 69 other countries.

Below is a link to an interview with Michael Porter and CNN regarding the groundbreaking study, as well as the link to the actual study, Social Progress Index 2014. I urge you to look into them both for more information.

Interview:
http://cnn.it/QoZL12

Social Progress Index 2014:
http://bit.ly/1mq6zq3