As Washington cobbles together a new American health care system, experts have made a sport of praising–and defaming–public health models from Switzerland to Saskatchewan. Whether or not you draw inspiration from abroad, it’s obvious that any international model beats the American status quo when it comes to cost.

America is the world’s leader in health spending, with a whopping 17 percent of our GDP being eaten up by health care, compared to just 11 percent in France, the second biggest spender.

Graphic by Graham Roberts / grahamyvesroberts.com

Even nations like Canada and the United Kingdom that depend almost exclusively on government-funded programs have managed to reduce costs to 11 percent of GDP or less–while covering a larger portion of their populations than we do. In an American system reliant on market efficiency, Adam Smith’s invisible hand has gone missing. America is spending more for less–but why?

With health care costs taking center-stage on the Hill, lawmakers might do well to take foreign models into consideration. While a number of features of the American health care system–demographics, politics, health habits, etc.–will require a uniquely American solution, Congress can learn a thing or two about balancing coverage and cost from other nations that have found success.