What Measures the Standard of Living?

America has been the world's economic leader for over a century, yet there is mixed data as to weather America is truly ahead of the European countries. The data that proves these facts is partially distorted and so it is very difficult to make conclusions about a standard of living. Europeans are very productive but they work shorter hours per week then Americans so that they have leisure time to enjoy their hard work. Americans however spend excessive amounts of time working, which inhibits them from having time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. …