Does it really make sense to calculate GDP per capita in USD for all countries? Why?

Answer 1

You can't make comparison without bringing everything to a common denominator.. For example, US GDP is roughly 60,000 USD Mexico is about 200,000 pesos. You might be tempted to say Mexico has a much higher standard of living. However, those 200,000 pesos will only buy about 10,000 dollars worth of goods in the US. Mexcicos GDP per capita in USD is roughly 10,000 or 1/6th that of the US