The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of the well known The Economist, has created a list of the top twelve best places to be born in 2013 and Ireland came in at number 12.
Switzerland landed the luckiest place to be born in 2013 with an EIC score of 8.22 and Ireland followed at number 12 with a score of 7.74 , just missing the top ten. The United States followed behind at number 16 with a score of 7.38.
The EIU ranks 80 countries by assigning them a score. The score is created by using an equation the EIU created. The EIU assigns a number for the results of its self-satisfaction survey. The survey looks at how happy people say they are. Obviously, the survey is rather subjective. The EIU then adds objective factors about quality of life. Influencing factors include trust in public institutions, crime rates, and health of family life. State policies and the state of the world economy also carry weight. Countries are assigned a number between 1 and 10, where 10 is the highest.
The EIU must make predictions about what these factors will be like in the future. Factors such as income per capita are easier to calculate than others. The EIU uses the economic forecasts to 2030, which is when babies born in 2013 will reach adulthood. Some factors, such as demography and cultural characteristics, tend to change slowly and may not see a large difference between now and 2030.
The current world economy had a big impact on countries’ scores. Countries with smaller economies and who were generally not part of the Euro zone fill the top ten. The Netherlands was the only country from the Euro zone to make it into the top ten.The large debt that the US has pushed it back to the 16th spot. The crisis hurting southern European countries, such as Greece, Portugal, and Spain, pushed those countries even further down on the list. Ireland has recently experienced a boost in its aviation industry which might have helped push it up the list. Additionally, Ireland should receive a boost in tourism revenue from the Gathering in 2013.
General life expectancy and political freedoms have continued to increase across the world, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. However, the economic crisis has increased unemployment and decreased personal security. Both of these things impacted family and community life.
The top countries and their EIC scores below
1 Switzerland- 8.22
2 Australia- 8.12
3 Norway- 8.09
4 Sweden- 8.02
5 Denmark- 8.01
6 Singapore- 8.00
7 New Zealand- 7.95
8 Netherlands- 7.94
9 Canada- 7.81
10 Hong Kong- 7.80
11 Finland- 7.76
12 Ireland- 7.74
6 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Mortimer74 | Dec 01, 2012, 04:08 PM EST
By the way, IC, please can you make clear your policies and procedures regarding posting comments to the site. It seems totally random. My post below to a thread from a couple of days ago sailed through. On the other hand I've been trying to post a reply to Barneyjoe for 2 days. Are there limits on words per post? Do you ever close down threads? Are there certain hours when comments won't get posted? A little clarification would go a long way. Thanks
Mortimer74 | Dec 01, 2012, 03:59 PM EST
Nice post, EamonnDublin. Being English with proud Irish blood, and now residing in the States, I love to visit Ireland. And I not only agree with Eamonn12, but have witnessed it first hand. Have spent most of the last 15 years living or working in Latin America, and the people's warmth and joy of life is contagious. Despite their social problems, I'd take living in a colorful, culturally rich, happy country like Mexico over Norway every time.
WoundedKnee | Nov 30, 2012, 02:18 PM EST
Now we know why more than a million foreign migrants have colonized Ireland in the past decade or so.
Eamonn12 | Nov 30, 2012, 01:46 PM EST
From one Eamonn to another...I agree wholeheartedly. Some of the happiest nations on earth are poor. Mexico for example.
TayandCake | Nov 29, 2012, 09:16 PM EST
Fairplay Eamonn, Happy Christmas mate
EamonnDublin | Nov 29, 2012, 04:13 PM EST
Irish Central really is an amazing piece of work. Quotations from the above article: "Obviously, the survey is rather subjective" , "Ireland has recently experienced a boost in its aviation industry, which might have helped push it up the list" , "Ireland should receive a boost in tourism revenue from The Gathering in 2013". All these gratuitous comments are pointedly suggesting that, but for these factors, Ireland would be (much) further down the list. Surely, Irish Central is aware that, time after time, Ireland does very well in happiness leagues. Surely Irish Central is aware that, despite the economic downturn, Irish people in general have retained our sense of humour, our ability to enjoy life, our sense of optimism, our recognition that money isn't everything, our sadness at having to leave, our desire to return home, our total love for our home country despite its problems. Irish Central consistently tries to knock down the image of Ireland abroad. In this it is aided and abetted by a certain few on these boards who appear to have a self-hatred affliction. Ireland is a great place to live, and the vast majority of us who are lucky enough to be here are very happy. For all our Irish family abroad, I trust you are also all happy where you are, and, if at some stage you want to return to Ireland, that you manage to do so. Oh, and by the way, to all the knockers of Ireland out there, don't bother trying to annoy me by insulting my country. I love it, I'm proud to be Irish, and NOTHING you say will make even the smallest dent in that. With Love to ALL Proud Irish men and Irish women. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.