Trans-Atlantic Prosperity
As would be expected, countries on both sides of the Atlantic lead the list in global prosperity, social indicators, and overall well-being. Norway placed first out of 169 comparators, while the USA was # 4, Ireland #5, Lichtenstein #6, Netherlands #7 , Canada #8, Sweden #9, and Germany #10.
In the UN Development Programme’s recently released “Human Development Report 2010—the Real Wealth of Nations,” a global barometer not only of economic but equally also educational achievements, health standards, and perceptions of well-being, cited socio/economic gains both across the Atlantic and Pacific, with the impressive standings of Australia and New Zealand as number 3 and 4.
Switzerland came in 13th , France 14th , Italy 23rd. But look carefully and see that the United Kingdom scores 26th globally, just two places ahead of the Czech Republic at 28th or Slovenia at 29th .
Other former East Bloc states such as Slovakia scored 31st, Hungary 36th and Poland 41st.
One point worth noting in spite of the domestic debate in the U.S. over health care, the fact remains that per capita spending in the USA stands at $7,285; that contrasts with $3,900 in Canada , $3,323 in Sweden and $3,700 in France. Even the closest rival Norway comes in at $4,763.
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