UK has 'worst quality of life in Europe'

Locutus

Locutus

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Seems a tad harsh. Wonder if england has improved any since this 2011 study was done.



Survey of 10 developed European countries puts UK at bottom of the pile due to high costs of living, while France takes top spot

The UK has been named the worst place to live in Europe for quality of life, behind countries with damaged economies such as Ireland and Italy, according to the latest uSwitch quality of life index.

The UK emerged as having the second lowest hours of sunshine a year, the fourth highest retirement age, and the third lowest spend on health as a percentage of GDP.

Despite above average household income – the fourth highest in Europe – Britons have 5.5 fewer days holiday a year than the European average and endure a below average government spend on education.

UK households also struggle with a high cost of living, with food and diesel prices the highest in Europe, and unleaded petrol, alcohol and cigarettes all costing more than the European average.

As a result, more than one in 10 Britons (12%) said they are "seriously considering" emigrating, with "broken society" the biggest concern for 59% of those questioned, followed by the cost of living (49%), and crime and violence (47%). Just 5% of those questioned are happy in the UK.


good grief


UK has 'worst quality of life in Europe' | Money | The Guardian

 
Spade

Spade

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It is just a matter of time before this unnatural union flies into flinders. Parts will join Scandinavia, others France, some may even petition Canada to become a province and thereby qualify for equalization payments.
 
Blackleaf

Blackleaf

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I wouldn't take much notice of a study conducted between just a fifth of all Europe's countries by a price comparison service and reported in The Grauniad.

Spade said:
It is just a matter of time before this unnatural union flies into flinders.
Click to expand...

The most successful political union in history.
 
Blackleaf

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Britain enjoys 'second-highest standard of living in EU'

Figures from official statistics body Eurostat shows Britain ahead of several major European countries, but it falls back under the GDP measure

Patrick Collinson
Tuesday 13 December 2011
The Guardian


Revealing: Eurostat's 'actual individual consumption measure' strips out services paid for by governments, such as the NHS in the UK. Photograph: Monty Rakusen/Getty Images/Cultura RF

Britain has a standard of living 21% higher than the average in the 27 countries in the EU, and second only to Luxembourg, according to figures released by Eurostat.

Analysis by the official statistics body for the EU found that although the UK is ranked only 10th in the EU on the traditional measure of GDP per capita (ahead of France but behind Germany), it shoots towards the top of the table once the figures are adjusted for free, publicly supplied goods such as the NHS.

Eurostat said "actual individual consumption" (AIC) in the UK rated 121 on its index, where 100 is equal to the average in the union. The British figure is significantly higher than many countries normally regarded as having a higher standard of living than the UK, including Sweden (114), Denmark (114) and the Netherlands (116).

Eurostat said its AIC figure is a better reflection of real household living standards than GDP per head.

"AIC consists of goods and services actually consumed by individuals, irrespective of whether these goods and services are purchased and paid for by households, by government, or by non-profit organisations," it said. In contrast, GDP measures how much households spend rather than how much they consume.

"In international volume comparisons of consumption, AIC is often seen as the preferable measure since it is not influenced by the fact the organisation of certain important services consumed by households, like health and education services, differs a lot across countries. For example, if dental services are paid for by the government in one country, and by households in another, an international comparison would not compare like with like," it said.

Bulgaria is Europe's poorest country on both GDP and AIC measures, while outside the EU27, Norway and Switzerland are the richest.

The data underlines how far some countries have risen and fallen in the tables during the financial crisis. Ireland registered a GDP per head that was 48% above the EU average in 2007 – and higher even than Switzerland – but has since dropped to 28% above the average. Its AIC score has also fallen heavily from 109 in 2008 to 102 in 2010. Britain's relative GDP per head peaked in 2004 and has since eased back.

Eurostat figures also reveal that prices in the UK were 2% above the EU average in 2010. Denmark was the most expensive EU country (47% above the EU average) while Bulgaria was the least expensive (55% below).

Actual individual consumption per capita (top 10)

Based on average for the EU 27 countries = 100
Luxembourg 150
United Kingdom 121
Germany 117
Netherlands 116
Austria 116
Denmark 114
Sweden 114
France 113
Finland 111
Belgium 110
Source: Eurostat

Britain enjoys 'second-highest standard of living in EU' | Money | theguardian.com
 
Twila

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Is there a Europe vs North American study? I know that we work our people to death practically.
 
Blackleaf

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Twila said:
Is there a Europe vs North American study? I know that we work our people to death practically.
Click to expand...


Canadians work an average of 36.6 hours per week.

On average Canadian men spent more hours per week at work (39.6 hours) than Canadian women (33.2 hours) in 2012.

In 2012, weekly hours of work varied between 35.4 in Quebec and 39.0 in Alberta.

Work - Weekly Hours Worked / Indicators of Well-being in Canada

A study compiled by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), an organisation founded by the EU, found that Britons work an average of 41.4 hours per week, with only Romanians and Bulgarians working longer.

Not surprisingly, the notoriously lazy French work the least number of hours per week.

BBC NEWS | Business | UK work week among EU's longest
 
Locutus

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I get paid for 36.6 hours and actually 'work' about 8 of those. Pretty sweet deal here in Canada.
 
Spade

Spade

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Jeepers, I thought Jerusalem was in Palestine. Are the English the new Palestinians? Perhaps Blair should be meddling on England's behalf?

Pass the toast, Captain.
 
Tonington

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Blackleaf said:
Canadians work an average of 36.6 hours per week.

On average Canadian men spent more hours per week at work (39.6 hours) than Canadian women (33.2 hours) in 2012.

In 2012, weekly hours of work varied between 35.4 in Quebec and 39.0 in Alberta.

Work - Weekly Hours Worked / Indicators of Well-being in Canada

A study compiled by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), an organisation founded by the EU, found that Britons work an average of 41.4 hours per week, with only Romanians and Bulgarians working longer.

Not surprisingly, the notoriously lazy French work the least number of hours per week.

BBC NEWS | Business | UK work week among EU's longest
Click to expand...

Average Canadian income is $48,250, which is £26,500, which is the same as the UK:
The High Pay Centre calculated that FTSE 100 chiefs on an average £4.3million took just two and a half days after the New Year break to top Britain’s £26,500 average salary.​

But we work fewer hours per week than you do. Hah, we get an extra hour each day from Monday to Friday to enjoy time with family, freinds, and still earn the same as you do. Quality of life. :lol:
 
JLM

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Locutus said:
Seems a tad harsh. Wonder if england has improved any since this 2011 study was done.



Survey of 10 developed European countries puts UK at bottom of the pile due to high costs of living, while France takes top spot

The UK has been named the worst place to live in Europe for quality of life, behind countries with damaged economies such as Ireland and Italy, according to the latest uSwitch quality of life index.

The UK emerged as having the second lowest hours of sunshine a year, the fourth highest retirement age, and the third lowest spend on health as a percentage of GDP.

Despite above average household income – the fourth highest in Europe – Britons have 5.5 fewer days holiday a year than the European average and endure a below average government spend on education.

UK households also struggle with a high cost of living, with food and diesel prices the highest in Europe, and unleaded petrol, alcohol and cigarettes all costing more than the European average.

As a result, more than one in 10 Britons (12%) said they are "seriously considering" emigrating, with "broken society" the biggest concern for 59% of those questioned, followed by the cost of living (49%), and crime and violence (47%). Just 5% of those questioned are happy in the UK.


good grief


UK has 'worst quality of life in Europe' | Money | The Guardian

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Too little criteria to come to a sensible conclusion!

Locutus said:
I get paid for 36.6 hours and actually 'work' about 8 of those. Pretty sweet deal here in Canada.
Click to expand...


Is that something to brag about?
 
captain morgan

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Tonington said:
Average Canadian income is $48,250, which is £26,500, which is the same as the UK:
The High Pay Centre calculated that FTSE 100 chiefs on an average £4.3million took just two and a half days after the New Year break to top Britain’s £26,500 average salary.​
But we work fewer hours per week than you do. Hah, we get an extra hour each day from Monday to Friday to enjoy time with family, freinds, and still earn the same as you do. Quality of life. :lol:
Click to expand...


Compare the relative tax rates and cost of living between the 2 nations and you'll get more of an idea of what kind of buying power you have.

End of the day, Canadians have far more money in their pockets than the Royalty's subjects in Britain
 
Spade

Spade

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JLM said:
Is that something to brag about?
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I am certain that Our Dear Watcher is not the average Canuck.

captain morgan said:
Compare the relative tax rates and cost of living between the 2 nations and you'll get more of an idea of what kind of buying power you have.

End of the day, Canadians have far more money in their pockets than the Royalty's subjects in Britain
Click to expand...

The price of a 51 g Mars Bar in Britain is 51 p or $0.93 CDN.
In Canada, the same Mars bar is $0.65 CDN, or roughly 2/3 the price in Britain.
You are right again, Captain!
 
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