Paycheck dependence and unaffordable care pervade even rich developed economies

Evidence

In 2024, 77 percent of American workers reported that they would have financial difficulty if their paycheck was delayed by just one week. In a society where we increasingly depend on the market for everything, one out of three Americans is forced to postpone or forgo medical care because they cannot afford it, often with mortal consequences. This forgoing of medical care happens even in European countries with better health systems. In 2023, 7.6 percent of the Italian population gave up medical treatment because it was too expensive or the wait list for it was excessively long. We’re talking about approximately four million Italians. — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 87

Categorization

• XREF: The paycheck-dependence fragility is the substrate austerity exploits — connects to her ‘invisible order’ thesis and later Italy case. — connects to: Poverty is inherent to capitalism even in its richest, most developed forms. — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 88; Most Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and cannot afford needed medical care. — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 87; Economic dependence on employers or charity can itself constitute a form of domination — Frank Lovett, Republicanism, 54 (+1 more)