USA is a land of dreams and opportunities; it offers high quality education for students all over the world. The quality of education and the career prospects after graduation is very high; USA has attracted most of the study abroad aspirants. It hosts more number of international students than any other country in the world. In fact, a survey resulted approximately around 600,000 pursue their higher studies in this country. In USA, there are more than 4,000 public and private colleges, universities and community colleges including over 600 public four-year colleges and universities and over 1,650 private four-year colleges and universities. These traditional institutions give admissions to nearly about 15 million students. Let us see some of the fast facts and figures about USA.
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POLITICAL SYSTEM
USA is one of the longest surviving constitutional republic with the oldest written in the world. Its government operates as a representative democracy through a congressional system under a set of powers specified by its constitution. There are three levels of government: federal, state and local. Officials at all three levels are either elected by voters in a secret ballot or appointed by other elected officials.
TECHNOLOGY
USA is one of the powerful and prestigious countries in scientific and technological research and the production of innovative technological products. During World War II, USA was the first country to develop the atomic bomb ushering the atomic age. During the beginning of the Cold War, USA had succeeded in space science and technology, leading to a space race, which led to rapid advances in developing rockets, weapons, material science, computers and many other areas.
USA has a large share of Nobel Prizes in sciences especially in the fields of physiology and medicine. The National Institutes of Health, a focal point for biomedical research in the USA, has contributed in the completion of the Human Genome Project. The aviation and space research National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which is the main government organization along with major corporations such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin also plays a major role in technology development.
ECONOMY
The U.S. has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000 (2007). In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private market place. U.S. business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering U.S. markets. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $847 billion in 2007. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. Together, these problems caused a marked reduction in the value and status of the dollar worldwide in 2007.
HEALTH
The U.S. spends more on health care per capita than any other nation in the world. Yet, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. United States health care is provided by a diverse array of individuals and legal entities. Individuals are offered inpatient and outpatient services by commercial, charitable, or governmental entities. The health care system is not fully publicly funded but contains a mix of public and private funding. A new poll released by the American Cancer Society and Trust for America's Health (TFAH) found that Americans ranked the flu epidemic, cancer and obesity as their leading health concerns. Life expectancy is relatively high (78 years) and infant mortality is high.
Society and Culture There are many stories, positive and negative, about American people and many have preconceived ideas from films and television programs that they have seen. It's extremely difficult to categorize and describe 'American culture'. American society is extremely diverse and complex and should not be reduced to stereotypes. Important differences exist between geographical regions, between rural and urban areas, and between social classes. In addition, the presence of millions of immigrants who came to the United States from all corners of the world with their own culture and values adds even more variety and flavor to American life.
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