More Indicators

[KARL]

There is a new international comparison available:
https://www.prosperity.com/rankings

It is interesting (at least for some) where the UK comes out best (broadly speaking money and business) and where worst (safety, freedom, social capital, health, education, environment - and what they call living conditions, yep, money openness, efficiency and quality). This is a UK based study and Conservative headed at that but no doubt the usual parties will dismiss the bad news as fake news because it does not look relentlessly great for the UK putting it at the top. I find it revealing that countries occupying the top five to ten positions are not much of a surprise.

[davebro]

Quite appropriate that the bottom part of the table is extensively coloured RED. (N.B. Corbyn/McD)

[Old_Geezer]

Ok. What does one do with it ? How were the scores arrived at ? Where are these individual scores for money, freedom, etc. ?

[Old_Geezer]

Ah found the globe. Hmmm interesting I suppose.

[Buenchico]

To move the UK up the tables we need to pay a lot more tax but any party that seeks to put up taxes for 'the average working person' (rather than for 'the rich' or for 'big businesses') simply won't get the votes to get them into power (or to keep them there if they announce tax rises after getting into power).

'Mr/Ms Average', earning the equivalent of £28k in Belgium, France, Italy or Germany pays over a hundred pounds a week more in income tax than his/her UK counterpart does
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1495C/production/_109561348_incomes-nc.png
so it's hardly surprising that those countries are better able to fund their health services, social housing, childcare, etc far more easily than any UK Government (of whatever political colour) can. The gap is even bigger when you examine the taxation rates of the Nordic countries.

It seems like everybody wants to moan about the failings of publicly-funded services in this country but very few of those moaners are prepared to hand over thousands of pounds extra per year to improve matters.

[KARL]

Ah, yes Chris, there is a lot of moaning audible around these parts isn't there....? It is a national pastime and, as you say, not much interest in doing.

[KARL]

Mind you, I think there is something else at work: It's not just the size of the purse, the highest performing countries are better at organising and running things and thus things turn out even better "per buck".

[pixie374]

Without looking at the link, my guess is that the best performing are mostly Scandinavian, where there is the most equality. But I will have a look now.

[pixie374]

No surprises there then!