Posted on 10/27/2009 1:11:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – For those who value their freedom of expression as much as health, wealth, and prosperity, then Finland is the place to be, with an index ranking the Nordic nation the best in the world.
The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index, published on Tuesday and compiled by the Legatum Institute, an independent policy, advocacy and advisory organization, ranked 104 countries which are home to 90 percent of the world's population.
The index is based on a definition of prosperity that combines economic growth with the level of personal freedoms and democracy in a country as well as measures of happiness and quality of life.
With the exception of Switzerland, which came in at number 2, Nordic countries dominated the top 5 slots, with Sweden in third place followed by Denmark and Norway.
The top 10 were all also Western nations, with Australia (6th place) and Canada (7th place) both beating the United States, ranked 9th. Britain came in at number 12.
In Asia, Japan was the region's highest ranked country at number 16, followed by Hong Kong (18th place) and Singapore (23rd place) and Taiwan (24th place).
Dr. William Inboden, senior vice president of the Legatum Institute, said the lower rankings for Asian nations were largely due to their weak scores for democracy and personal freedoms.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The top 5 now have lower tax rates than the State of NY.
Of course they gonna be doing a LITTLE BIT BETTER...
If 0 keeps things up, we’ll be down on the bottom with Venezuela and Cuba (I’m assuming those are on the bottom).
The Nordic girls are cute too.
They are all socialist, that is AP’s inplied point so we can join the “Free Party” of HUGE GUB’MINT.
Did I mention that Obama’s going to fill my gas tank and pay my mortgage?
The nordic countries are nice places. I could live there. If I could pick anywhere i’ve been though it would be New Zealand. The landscapes are unbelievable, the fishing and outdoor opportunities are worldclass, it isn’t crowded, I like the lifestyle, and the people are probably the friendliest i’ve come across in 30 years of travel. Its the only country i’d rather live in than the United States.
The top 10 were all also Western nations..
hmmm...
Pretty places all. looks a bit like alaska
Another bogus “study”
Is the average Fin allowed to own a gun?
What is their crime ratio, and how much do they pay in taxes each year? Have the muzz found their way into Finland yet?
Do the Fins have those wonderful Red Light Scameras on every corner? I know they are everywhere in Australia.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I want to be,
Pony trekking or camping,
Or just watching TV.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
It’s the country for me.
You’re so near to Russia,
So far from Japan,
Quite a long way from Cairo,
Lots of miles from Vietnam.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I want to be,
Eating breakfast or dinner,
Or snack lunch in the hall.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
Finland has it all.
You’re so sadly neglected
And often ignored,
A poor second to Belgium,
When going abroad.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I quite want to be,
Your mountains so lofty,
Your treetops so tall.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
Finland has it all.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
The country where I quite want to be,
Your mountains so lofty,
Your treetops so tall.
Finland, Finland, Finland.
Finland has it all.
Finland has it all.
I don’t know, not one Middle East country shows up sooooo.
It’s the sauna lifestyle that would do it for me.. if I could make money sitting in one.. and rolling in the snow ,, ahhh the life. ;-)
I thought the Scandanavian nations were at tleast starting to get away from socialism.
Is the average Fin allowed to own a gun?
—
I hope so,, lots of Moose and bear still roam there
So now that we’ve established that high taxes, massive immigration and over-regulation are the keys to happiness when can we expect it here in the US? :)
ask Obama. :-)
“The nordic countries are nice places.”
I have only spent time in Sweden. But what a nice country and what genuinely friendly people.
But the demographics are changing rapidly there. The mono-culture that has supported a socialist solution works pretty well—there is a lot of shame in Swedish culture about accepting welfare and that is quite prevalent. That structure will stop working over time as the dependent class that does not share those cultural norms grows.
"And the world's least prosperous country? According to the Legatum Index, it is Zimbabwe, with Sudan and Yemen close runners-up."
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