Quality of living survey by Khyron

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Quality of living survey

POSTED BY: KHYRON
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 3, 2007 13:28
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Monday, April 2, 2007 11:47 AM

These are always interesting. Once again, my favourite city in the world (Vancouver) is way up there.

http://www.mercerhr.com/referencecontent.jhtml?idContent=1128060

It seems like every Canadian city has outranked the highest-scoring US city (Honolulu). Then again, it's not exactly new that the US gets outdone by its "pale white cousin to the north".

London outscored all but three US cities.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."

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Monday, April 2, 2007 4:57 PM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by Khyron:
It seems like every Canadian city has outranked the highest-scoring US city (Honolulu). Then again, it's not exactly new that the US gets outdone by its "pale white cousin to the north".

Must have been a Canadian survey.

H

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 1:40 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Hey Hero, have you actually ever been to another developed nation besides the USA for more than a day or two? Or are you speaking from complete lack of knowledge?

Many surveys show that the USA by ANY measure of standard of living is not in the top ten and many times not even in the top 20. Take some time off from being a biggish fish in a very small pond and travel abroad. You might be surprised.

---------------------------------
Always look upstream.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 2:36 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

I liked the disclaimer about "Quality of Living" vs. "Quality of Life".

The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London or New York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But that "spice" may also give a city a lower ranking.

What makes one person's quality of life better or worse cannot be quantified in an objective index. Therefore, Mercer's Quality of Living report reflects only the tangible aspects of living in a city on expatriate assignments, and leaves the question of the quality of one's life to those living it!

Edit to add: BTW, if you want stats, try NationMaster.com. I never knew there was so much info out there. This one speaks for itself.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_rol_coa_percap-lifestyle-roller-
coasters-per-capita

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 3:28 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

However, if you were to look at the happiness index, you will also find that many nations outrank the USA. In other words, whether you use objective standards (like infant mortality, crime rate, or life span, or the Human Develpoment Index) or whether you use subjective standards- like how happy or stressed do you feel, the USA tends to come out lower than many other developed nations (and in some cases lower than less-developed nations).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/happiness_formula/4771908.stm
www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1807947,00.html
www.peterhorn.dk/ExecutiveMagazine/Stoppress/061031_world_map_of_happi
ness_denmark_on_top.asp
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/20/news/poll.php

---------------------------------
Always look upstream.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 3:48 AM

MAVOURNEEN

Khyron, I'm with you. Vancouver, BC is one of the most gorgeous, friendliest, cleanest cities I have ever been to. I can easily understand why it is #3. Cost of living is outrageous, though...and owning real estate is a pipe dream.

Kind of glad to see my city (Washington DC) made the top 50. I would have ranked it #895...but perhaps others see redeeming qualities who don't have to drive in the city.

------------------------------------------------

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 6:51 AM

MALBADINLATIN

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
However, if you were to look at the happiness index, you will also find that many nations outrank the USA. QUOTE]

You know what...I spent a lot of time thinking about that when I lived in China and Turkey, as a civilian. In both China and Turkey the people seemed to smile more per day. And thier family structures are generally in tact. I guess my conclusion is that even though they don't have cars, more material wealth, and nicer houses, they appear to be at least NO less happy than the people I know here

"The world is still turning and you're on it....count yourself lucky" My Dad, 2007.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 7:56 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Several surveys found that once basic needs are met, more money and more things does NOT equate with greater hapiness.

---------------------------------
Always look upstream.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 10:03 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
However, if you were to look at the happiness index, you will also find that many nations outrank the USA.

But not Canada. 84% happy for the USA to 75% for Canada. I bet if we didn't count all the Bush-haters on FFF.Net, the USA'd be much higher up the list.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_hap_net-lifestyle-happiness-net

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 10:21 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Thank you Geezer for that piece of vital information. However you slice it, the USA is not even near the top of any list. Iceland for some reason seems to be in the top three of most lists.

---------------------------------
Always look upstream.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 10:35 AM

KHYRON

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
But not Canada. 84% happy for the USA to 75% for Canada.

That's probably because whenever Canadians go to another country, people think they're Americans. I'd be depressed too.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 11:23 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Woot! 27! We beat London, Paris, Tokyo, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago AND New York! Woot!

Um... are they sure that's accurate?

Banners, avatars and other fun stuff at www.desktophippie.com

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 11:25 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Quote:
Originally posted by Khyron:
Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
But not Canada. 84% happy for the USA to 75% for Canada.
That's probably because whenever Canadians go to another country, people think they're Americans. I'd be depressed too.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter."

But there's NO difference between the American and Canadian accent! None! Canadians sound American! I just can't tell the difference!

I KNOW it's annoying! I'd be pretty narky if everyone assumed I was British. I KNOW there's a difference... but I can't tell by the accents!

*shame*

Banners, avatars and other fun stuff at www.desktophippie.com

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 12:03 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

One thing about Canadians? They always sound like they're asking a question, eh? I've spoken with people in Mississauga and Alberta and near Vancouver and it's always the same? So that even when they haven't ended the sentence with "eh?" it's still there in spirit? Eh?

One of the nice things about being American is that when I go abroad I can always claim I'm Canadian. That prolly factors into the American happiness!

Eh?

---------------------------------
Always look upstream.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 1:13 PM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by Khyron:

That's probably because whenever Canadians go to another country, people think they're Americans. I'd be depressed too.

Well, I know my happiness is in a constant downward spiral since I've been watching Harper "govern" the country. So, if it's a recent poll, this will probably account for a lot of the unhappiness found here too.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 1:14 PM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:

One of the nice things about being American is that when I go abroad I can always claim I'm Canadian. That prolly factors into the American happiness!

Yah, we really wish you guys would stop that.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 1:28 PM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
Thank you Geezer for that piece of vital information. However you slice it, the USA is not even near the top of any list.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_imp-economy-economic-importa
nce

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_inn-economy-innovation

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_bus_eff-economy-business-efficie
ncy

In just a minute of looking.

And of about 200 countries, the US is in the top 10% of most positive indicators (and a few negative ones too). It might be better to break us down into regions.

Brunei has the most roller coasters per capita. Does that tell you anything valid?

Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bosnia Herzegovina are amoung the countries with the most even distribution of family income. Yep. Everybody there is poor.

A single statistic tells you pretty much nothing. You gotta look at correlations between related bits of data to find anything of significance. People with doctorates spend their lives trying to figure out what's significant.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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