PDA

View Full Version : UK has 'worst quality of life' in Europe


Take a Look
10-18-2009, 05:56 AM
UK has 'worst quality of life' in Europe
Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:12:41 GMT

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20091013/fazaeli-fatemeh20091013095608031.jpg

Despite having the highest incomes, people in Britain have the worst quality of life in Europe, a study shows.

According to the uSwitch.com European Quality of Life Index, Britons have longer working hours, lower holiday entitlement and a higher cost of living than their counterparts in other European countries, placing them at the bottom of the list in survey.

The UK also has the highest net household income at £35,730 ($56,000) a year, more than £10,000 ($16,000) above the European average.

But much of this is eaten up by the higher cost of living on the British Isles.

"We earn substantially more than our European neighbors, but this level of income is needed just to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm," Ann Robinson, head of consumer policy at the British firm said.

Britain is also the second most expensive country in Europe for unleaded petrol, where diesel costs 20 percent more then the European average. Food prices are also higher there.

When it comes to health and education spending, Britain ranks near the bottom of the list again and has a below average life expectancy.

By contrast, the French and the Spaniards have the best quality of life out of Europe's biggest countries -- including Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and Britain.

They retire earlier, live longer and have more paid holidays than the average, and while they earn less, they have some of the lowest food, electricity and gas prices.

"There is more to good living than money and this report shows why so many Brits are giving up on the UK and heading to France and Spain," Robinson said.

The report also warned that Britain's quality of life was likely to fall further because of the recession, which has pushed unemployment to nearly 2.5 million and will likely result in public spending cuts.

FF/TG/DT

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020601

That explains why southern Portugal and Spain is full of UK people :cool:

Xiahou Dun
10-18-2009, 06:20 AM
UUUUUUU GOTTTAAA SWITTTTTCCCCHHHH!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOCSKoAWPiM)

Yeah don't think I'm taking anything those guys say seriously...

How do we measure Quality of Life? not like it can be given a numeric value.

Hoolwath
10-18-2009, 06:30 AM
There is no proof in that article.

"But much of this is eaten up by the higher cost of living on the British Isles.

"We earn substantially more than our European neighbors, but this level of income is needed just to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and our homes warm," Ann Robinson, head of consumer policy at the British firm said."

This part would need to be true for it to make sense, but there are no numbers to back it up.

BaxVarlet
10-18-2009, 07:27 AM
Yeah, this is totally unsubstantiated.

I'm sure Slovakia has way worse quality of life than England.

bdog1321
10-18-2009, 08:21 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

Scroll down a litte, till you find the rankings. Done on October 5, 2009. UK is nowhere near the bottom, but significantly worse than my expectations.

I'm not sure though; Wikipedia put up a "this article's factual value is disputed" warning. I've heard about this survey before though, and I think it's correct.

Hoolwath
10-18-2009, 09:24 AM
Yeah, this is totally unsubstantiated.

I'm sure Slovakia has way worse quality of life than England.

We have much lower wages and lower prices, but the ratio between lower wages and lower prices creates a worse quality of life compared to the UK in the end, I believe.

R G
10-18-2009, 05:58 PM
A move towards socialism will tend to make a country less desirable to live in....driving up costs for goods and services due to increased taxes....hopefully UK turns things around.

lunor3
10-19-2009, 10:48 AM
Cartoon Sex (http://toons-empire.com/)

ArcPaladinZero
10-19-2009, 11:38 AM
My quality of life feels alright.

ExpectDeath
10-19-2009, 12:38 PM
Cartoon Sex.

The Cheat
10-19-2009, 12:50 PM
At least they have their tea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l1F6BmKbO0

Veilmenacex
10-19-2009, 01:03 PM
How come UK is always portrayed as bad :noway:

The Cheat
10-19-2009, 01:05 PM
Not sure Veil.

I like England. Hope to visit some day. Watch BBC America channel all the time.

I personally think British things are cool.

Veilmenacex
10-19-2009, 01:08 PM
At least they have their tea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l1F6BmKbO0

I like England's Tea Time.