Norway is best place to live, China moves up: UN
PARIS (AFP) – Norway takes the number one spot in the annual United Nations human development index released Monday but China has made the biggest strides in improving the well-being of its citizens.
The index compiled by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) ranks 182 countries based on such criteria as life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
Norway, Australia and Iceland took the first three spots while Niger ranks at the very bottom, just below Afghanistan.
China moved up seven places on the list to rank as the 92nd most developed country due to improvements in education as well as income levels and life expectancy.
Colombia and Peru rose five spaces to rank 77th and 78th while France -- which was not part of the top 10 last year -- returns to the upper echelons by moving up three places to number 8.
The UNDP said the index highlights the grave disparities between rich and poor countries.
A child born in Niger can expect to live to just over 50, which is 30 years less than a child born in Norway. For every dollar a person earns in Niger, 85 dollars are earned in Norway.
This year's index was based on data from 2007 and does not take into account the impact of the global economic crisis.
"Many countries have experienced setbacks over recent decades, in the face of economic downturns, conflict-related crises and the HIV and AIDS epidemic," said the UN development report's author Jeni Klugman.
"And this was even before the impact of the current global financial crisis was felt."
Afghanistan, which returns to the list for the first time since 1996, is the only Asian country among the bottom ten which also include Sierra Leone in the 180th spot, just below the Central African Republic.
The top ten countries listed on the index are: Norway, Australia, Iceland, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Switzerland and Japan.
The United States ranks 13th, down one spot from last year.
Africa is the spot. Niger must be some place if it's worse than Afghanistan!
Ireland 5th!
Quote from: AZOffaly on October 05, 2009, 09:26:40 PM
Ireland 5th!
I can tell you're shocked, just not in which direction you're shocked.
High cost of living, non existent public transport, poor public sector/ government accountability, without even mentioning the fact that we're flat broke. How the he'll are we 5th???
Quote from: AZOffaly on October 05, 2009, 09:26:40 PM
Ireland 5th!
Uh oh... I sense another levy coming around the corner - that's bound to be enough justification for one
Quote from: AZOffaly on October 05, 2009, 09:26:40 PM
Ireland 5th!
I dare say ourselves and Iceland have fallen out of the Top 10 now!
Though with the price of a pint in Norway, there wouldnt be too many of us queueing up to go there either!
Quote from: mc_grens on October 05, 2009, 11:31:40 PM
High cost of living, non existent public transport, poor public sector/ government accountability, without even mentioning the fact that we're flat broke. How the he'll are we 5th???
Chill out. This will be adjusted in a couple of years to reflect the true position around #50.
Quotedoes that mean in 2011 when they use 2009 stats we will be 147th?
No. Ireland is still one of the most prosperous countries in the World either way, although it may drop a few places. Things of importance such as s life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment have not be affected at all.
Anywhere in the 26 counties is good for me. Well apart from Dublin and Roscommon and maybe Sligo and Carlow.
Always found the Netherlands as a place that would be nice to live in. Adelaide in Oz a very nice place also.
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
They use income from selling their gas to fund their healthcare system which, some of you may be surprised to hear, is slightly more efficient than ours. Apparently in Norway you can see a consultant before the life expectancy of your fatal condition expires. Imagine that?
Quote from: WeAreBlueWeAreWhite on October 06, 2009, 03:33:45 PM
Anywhere in the 26 counties is good for me. Well apart from Dublin and Roscommon and maybe Sligo and Carlow.
Please make that a definite non mover.
Middle east would suit you too.
Quote from: WeAreBlueWeAreWhite on October 06, 2009, 03:33:45 PM
Anywhere in the 26 counties is good for me. Well apart from Dublin and Roscommon and maybe Sligo and Carlow.
Obviously a person of poor taste :(
QuoteHigh cost of living, non existent public transport, poor public sector/ government accountability, without even mentioning the fact that we're flat broke. How the he'll are we 5th???
nothing wrong with Ireland apart from a hand ful of whining basterds most of who spend their time rining Joe duffy when they are not in this parish
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
They use income from selling their gas to fund their healthcare system which, some of you may be surprised to hear, is slightly more efficient than ours. Apparently in Norway you can see a consultant before the life expectancy of your fatal condition expires. Imagine that?
What's with the slagging (this week) of Socialised medical care ???
Quote from: Tyrones own on October 07, 2009, 02:09:24 AM
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
They use income from selling their gas to fund their healthcare system which, some of you may be surprised to hear, is slightly more efficient than ours. Apparently in Norway you can see a consultant before the life expectancy of your fatal condition expires. Imagine that?
What's with the slagging (this week) of Socialised medical care ???
Do you understand that the whole world isn't about Republicans versus Democrats.
The Norwegians have a proper Health system which as it turns out is a socialist model.
Our hero, Mary 'closer to Boston than Berlin' Harney, took a bad health service and tried to privatise it and has turned it into the worst in Europe.
I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.
I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.
Quote from: southdown on October 07, 2009, 12:49:53 PM
I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.
I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.
replace media for taxes
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.
The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.
Quote from: southdown on October 07, 2009, 12:49:53 PM
I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.
I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.
Helps to get all that Nazi Gold and being a haven for hidden taxes. They have been at war, just not foreign wars in the last 800 years. Switzerland was one of the most sectarian places on Earth during the Reformation and for at least 100 years after, Catholics where really badly mistreated and while I don't know for sure, I reckon the Protestants in Catholic states probably where not treated too well either.
"I've been to paradise.....but i've never been to...... Meath"
Quote from: Hound on October 07, 2009, 01:25:10 PM
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.
The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.
You are joking right?
They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.
Quote from: muppet on October 07, 2009, 06:52:21 PM
Quote from: Hound on October 07, 2009, 01:25:10 PM
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.
The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.
You are joking right?
They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.
€50 billion!!! Hope it is...
There were hundreds of millions spent by those companies before there was any guarantee of any significant gas. Far too risky given we don't have the expertise, and to buy in that expertise would cost us a lot more than those companies who's business it is.
This way we get 40% of the profits (from 25% tax + licence fee) with no risk or outlay.
Quote from: Hound on October 08, 2009, 08:39:22 AM
Quote from: muppet on October 07, 2009, 06:52:21 PM
Quote from: Hound on October 07, 2009, 01:25:10 PM
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2009, 06:53:16 PM
Norway didn't give their gas away for free.
Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.
The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.
You are joking right?
They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.
€50 billion!!! Hope it is...
There were hundreds of millions spent by those companies before there was any guarantee of any significant gas. Far too risky given we don't have the expertise, and to buy in that expertise would cost us a lot more than those companies who's business it is.
This way we get 40% of the profits (from 25% tax + licence fee) with no risk or outlay.
We give away €50 Billion gas for free and take a mere 25% of the profits (we would get 12.5% corporation tax anyway) and you are happy with that?
What really disgusts me is that Noel Dempsey gave away two more licenses on the same terms in 2006. We have learned nothing.
The Norwegian Government didn't have the expertise either until they decided to get it.