Size of countries?

[Khalanad75]

When you read studies that rank countries, do you ever dismiss it somewhat when they don't take into consideration of the size of the countries?

Like when they rank drug use, or crime, or education... do you ever say to yourself, "but yeah, that country is the size of one of the states of the other."

 

[mobilehaathi]

Geographic size isn't always relevant.

 

[Khalanad75]

Geographic size isn't always relevant.

No, not always. But then reading things about High speed coverage and how the US lags behind other countries...it does.

 

[cube]

Most of those popular rankings are not based on absolute numbers. Size is taken out of the picture then.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Geographic size isn't always relevant.

Exactly.

And, for that matter, maps aren't always quite as objective on that subject as one might have been led to believe.

 

[chown33]

The word "size" is ambiguous here. It might mean "geographic area" or it might mean "population". I can't tell which one the OP is asking about.

If the OP means "population", then the relevant statistic is "per capita" or "per 100 thousand population".

 

[Khalanad75]

I was referring more to geographic area honestly. Sorry, after re-reading my original post, I can't believe I even got any responses. Have serious MS brain going on today.

 

[JamesMike]

Size is not all that important.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Size is not all that important.

No, agreed.

Instead, I'd argue that population, terrain, and level of (economic, social, cultural, political) development are all of far greater importance.

 

[Fzang]

It means that the way of governing the country should be adapted to the size and geography, instead of using the size as an excuse for doing a terrible job at governing by following a system that is clearly broken, e.g. U.S. elections.

 

[Huntn]

Geographic size isn't always relevant.

Agreed! We can talk about rates, but for other things like gross national product, size equals muscle.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agreed! We can talk about rates, but for other things like gross national product, size equals muscle.

No, not necessarily.

Russia dwarfs the US in size, and I'd say that Canada and Brazil, not to mention Greenland, and indeed, Antarctica, would also be clear competitors on the 'size' stakes, but none of these countries is, as yet, a political and economic power, or, for that matter, a competitor in the field of cultural influence that can compete with the US.

Size is not everything.

A number of factors, such as economic prowess, 'soft power' as well as the capacity to wage war, political and social and cultural development, natural resources (and how they are managed), relations with others, population, capacity to change and develop, fairness, all matter more than size in determining a how a country's 'muscle' is measured.

 

[mojolicious]

Pretty much every meaningful stat is presented as either per capita or per 100,000 people, isn't it?

 

[Huntn]

No, not necessarily.

Russia dwarfs the US in size, and I'd say that Canada and Brazil, not to mention Greenland, and indeed, Antarctica, would also be clear competitors on the 'size' stakes, but none of these countries is, as yet, a political and economic power, or, for that matter, a competitor in the field of cultural influence that can compete with the US.

Size is not everything.

A number of factors, such as economic prowess, 'soft power' as well as the capacity to wage war, political and social and cultural development, natural resources (and how they are managed), relations with others, population, capacity to change and develop, fairness, all matter more than size in determining a how a country's 'muscle' is measured.

I've all ready agreed that size is not always relevant. I was thinking of something like the U.S. vs Cuba or Germany vs Liechtenstein. Banking might be an exception, but size and population usually means more workers, and industrial capacity.

 

[McGiord]

A country size is relevant when it has more natural resources, and areas for economic development: farming, tourism, rivers, lakes, etc
The weather and their people will make a significant difference in how those resources are used and what comes out it as any advantage.

 

[Happybunny]

When you read studies that rank countries, do you ever dismiss it somewhat when they don't take into consideration of the size of the countries?

Like when they rank drug use, or crime, or education... do you ever say to yourself, "but yeah, that country is the size of one of the states of the other."

I think that the only size that should be of any concern to the USA is the size of DEBT.

17 Trillion is a lot of money.

Plus the balance of trade/surplus is not good either.

Surplus in Billion US-Dollar

Rank Country Surplus



1. Saudi Arabia 252.756

2. Germany 219.938

3. Russia 198.760

4. China 155.142

5. UAE 80.000

6. Kuwait 72.800

7. Qatar 72.000

8. Norway 67.982

9. Nigeria 64.000

10. Netherlands 63.145



Deficit in Billion US-Dollar

Rank Country Deficit



1. USA -784.775

2. UK -162.973

3. India -154.401

4. France -117.676

5. Turkey -105.862

6. Spain -64.691

7. Hong Kong -55.630

8. Italy -33.872

9. Japan -31.593

10. Egypt -28.375





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_current_account_balance

 

[chown33]

I think that the only size that should be of any concern to the USA is the size of DEBT.

17 Trillion is a lot of money.

Plus the balance of trade/surplus is not good either.

Surplus in Billion US-Dollar

Rank Country Surplus



1. Saudi Arabia 252.756

2. Germany 219.938

3. Russia 198.760

4. China 155.142

5. UAE 80.000

6. Kuwait 72.800

7. Qatar 72.000

8. Norway 67.982

9. Nigeria 64.000

10. Netherlands 63.145



Deficit in Billion US-Dollar

Rank Country Deficit



1. USA -784.775

2. UK -162.973

3. India -154.401

4. France -117.676

5. Turkey -105.862

6. Spain -64.691

7. Hong Kong -55.630

8. Italy -33.872

9. Japan -31.593

10. Egypt -28.375





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_current_account_balance

But what's the per-capita or percentage-of-GDP value?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

But what's the per-capita or percentage-of-GDP value?

The UNHDI index is also worth looking at when calculating elements such as well being.

 

[John Jacob]

But what's the per-capita or percentage-of-GDP value?

It's linked from the same Wikipedia page in Happybunny's post.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_current_account_balance_as_a_percentage_of_GDP

The USA has a current account deficit of 2.36% of GDP.
The UK has a current account deficit of 5.51% of GDP.
India has a current account deficit of 1.44% of GDP.