Britons ‘more content’ than they were last year, study finds
I think we concentrate too much on measuring hard edged things and not enough on surveys like this. They are important because they help us ask what the net and overall impact of policies in a given area are, measured against how people feel rather than simply counting the individual “beans” linked to individual policies. In this case the survey profiled, by the OECD, which I think knows more about key rural issues than any national or EU organisation, has identified that in relative terms things aint so bad. Food for thought? The article tells us:
The UK ranks tenth, one place up on last year, but behind Australia which came top, as well as Sweden, Canada and the US.
The survey ranked more than 30 countries on criteria such as income levels, health, safety and housing.
When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, British people gave it a 6.8 grade, slightly higher than the average of 6.6 of the world’s most advanced countries.
The Better Life Index – compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – used data taken from 2012 – the year in which the capital hosted the Olympics.
Experts say the Games had a “unifying force” which helped increase the nation’s happiness levels.
The report shows that, while money cannot buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In the UK, the average household net-adjusted disposable income is 26 904 USD a year, more than the OECD average of 23 047 USD a year.
In terms of employment, over 70 per cent of people aged 15 to 64 in the country have a paid job, above the OECD employment average of 66 per cent. Some 76 per cent of men are in paid work, compared with 65 per cent of women.
However, young people aged 15-24, face difficulties, with an unemployment rate of 20.0 per cent, higher than the average of 16.2 per cent.
I find it really interesting that it considers the importance of employment, incomes and youth employment all issues which are more challenging in rural than urban England.