On the long term, is it more expensive for the USA not to convert to metric units than to do it?

Question

95% of the World population uses the metric system and ISO Standards (like paper size, time and date notation, etc.) which the USA does not want to use.
If the USA does care for doing business outside the USA, why does it not convert to metric?
On the long term, not doing it would cost many jobs, and would be more expensive than the cost for converting to metric units as soon as possible, don't you think?
It looks to me as as if the USA is isolating itself.

Answer 1

Yes!
In Australia we had Pounds shillings and pence system of currency until 14th Jan 1966. I was in high school by this time and had spent many, many hours learning how to add, subtract, divide and multiply this currency. Now, students learn decimals as part of maths and no extra time is needed for currency. So, my first point is that SO MUCH time will be saved in classrooms on distance/weights matters that more time can be spent on other important things.

Labeling can overcome some problems. We did it with 20 million. You can with 200 million.

Answer 2

If you assume that having only one system is inherently cheaper then over the long term of course it is cheaper.

I would think in America that there is a lot of interest in remaining different for protectionist reasons and there are completely non – trivial costs to any change over.

With America being the biggest economy at the top of the food chain there is no benefit to the small change over time where it could fall behind. If this situation changes and suddenly its painfully more expensive to get letter paper or Inch sized parts as places like India and China grown then it will have to change. Don’t expect it any time soon.

Answer 3

I think the metric system should be in the USA but I get all goofed up with the metric system. When I go to other parts of the world, how far things are in miles instead of kilometers and trying to figure out gallons instead of liters. I think it would probably be easier if we changed over. Then I would get all messed up. The metric system is like a whole new language, I think. You have to eat and sleep it until one would understand it. I am in my 30's and I still don't understand it. I would have to be taught it. I wasn't taught it in school.

Answer 4

I do not remember for sure, but it seems to me some time ago the U S was going to convert, then someone did a study and decided it would be way too expensive to do so, and the plan was set aside.

Answer 5

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