The Real Reason We're Staying in the Netherlands
But don't tell anyone.
The Economist got wind of our (informal) research, and decided to publish it. In their February 11, 2006 issue they discuss some alternatives to measuring a country's success based on the GDP. "How to measure economies" or, as the print edition titles it, "Grossly Distorted Picture" (get it? Oh, Economist authors, you make me laugh), highlights three measures: GDP per head at purchasing-power parity; Household income adjusted for inequality; and GDP per head adjusted for leisure.
The US is the baseline (at 100) for all three measures. None of the 10 highlighted countries come close to exceeding the US for "GDP per head at purchasing-power parity". In fact, the closest is The Netherlands at around 83. France (111) and Britian (105) beat the US for "Household income adjusted for inequality". Regarding "GDP per head adjusted for leisure" (i.e. GDP per hour worked), one country stomps on the rest, at more than 10 points above the US baseline and more than 15 points better than other industrialized nations. Three guesses as to which country.
The Netherlands!
And so continues our life of leisure.
The Economist got wind of our (informal) research, and decided to publish it. In their February 11, 2006 issue they discuss some alternatives to measuring a country's success based on the GDP. "How to measure economies" or, as the print edition titles it, "Grossly Distorted Picture" (get it? Oh, Economist authors, you make me laugh), highlights three measures: GDP per head at purchasing-power parity; Household income adjusted for inequality; and GDP per head adjusted for leisure.
The US is the baseline (at 100) for all three measures. None of the 10 highlighted countries come close to exceeding the US for "GDP per head at purchasing-power parity". In fact, the closest is The Netherlands at around 83. France (111) and Britian (105) beat the US for "Household income adjusted for inequality". Regarding "GDP per head adjusted for leisure" (i.e. GDP per hour worked), one country stomps on the rest, at more than 10 points above the US baseline and more than 15 points better than other industrialized nations. Three guesses as to which country.
The Netherlands!
And so continues our life of leisure.
posted by Beth at 2:22 PM
1 Comments:
do you have an extra room in your flat? i could use some leisure.
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