Type-safety in C++

#include <iostream>

int main() {

    std::size_t a = 1;
    int b = -a;  // obviously, b <= a

    std::cout << "a = " << a << ", b = " << b << std::endl;

    std::cout << "try without cast) ";
    if (b <= a)
        std::cout << "b <= a" << std::endl;
    else
        std::cout << "b > a" << std::endl;

    std::cout << "try with cast) ";
    if (b <= static_cast<int>(a))
        std::cout << "b <= a" << std::endl;
    else
        std::cout << "b > a" << std::endl;

    return 0;
}