Britain leapfrogs Germany in list of world's most prosperous nations...
but still lags behind Norway, Australia and Iceland
The UK was singled out by the Legatum Institute as a good place to do business in its 2014 Prosperity Index
영국 소재 싱크탱크인 레가툼 연구소는 세계142개 나라를 대상으로 조사한
'2014 세계 번영 지수'를 발표했다.
이 연구소는 2008년부터 경제, 기업가 정신, 국가경영ㆍ통치 능력, 교육,
개인 자유, 보건, 안전ㆍ안보, 사회적 자본 등 8개 분야의 점수를 매겨 살기
좋은 나라 순위를 정한다
영국이 13위, 독일이 14위를 기록했으며 영국은 사업 최적지로 자리 매김
했다.
영국과 독일은 현재 EU개편에 대한 의견 상충으로 서로 대립상태에 있다.
세계 1위는 노르웨이가 차지했으며 다음으로 스위스 그리고 네덜란드가 3위를
기록했다.
아시아권에서는 20위권 내에 싱가포르 일본 홍콩이 순위에 들었으며 나머지는
모두 유럽나라가 순위를 차지했다.
한국은 25위를 기록했다.
한국은 6개 항목에서 상위권(1∼30위)에 올랐으나 개인 자유(59위)와 사회 공
동체 구성원 간의 협조나 네트워크를 일컫는 사회적 자본(69위)에서는 중상위권
(31∼71위)에 머물렀다. 특히 경제(9위)와 교육(15위)면에서 높은 평가를 받았다
에볼라가 창궐한 시에라 리온은 세계에서 건강 지수가 가장 낮은 국가((134위)로
분류됐다..
<에디터 황기철>
Legatum Institute's 2014 Prosperity Index puts UK 13th and Germany 14th Britain named as one of the best places in the world to do business 18.3% think it is a good time to find a job, according to the study It comes as Cameron and Merkel clash over plans for EU reform
By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline Britain has leapfrogged Germany to become the most prosperous of all major European Union countries. As David Cameron battles with Angela Merkel over his plans to curb EU immigration, the Prime Minister has been boosted by news that the UK is one of the best places to work and do business.
Legatum Institute's 2014 Prosperity Index reveals Norway as the most prosperous country in the world, while the Central African Republic finishes bottom of the rankings. Scroll down for video
David Cameron is being forced to change his planned reform of immigration rules to win Angela Merkel's support
The UK is ranked 13, three places higher than last year's index, and one spot ahead of Germany. The two countries are locked in a battle over Mr Cameron's plan to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU. The Prime Minister has vowed to put freedom of movement at the heart of his vow to claw back powers from Brussels.
However, in an escalation of tensions between London and Berlin, Mrs Merkel has reportedly told Mr Cameron that Germany would rather see Britain leave the EU than allow him to tear up its rules on free movement of labour. The German Chancellor warned the Prime Minister that he is reaching a ‘point of no return’ by pushing for reform of the bloc’s sacred free movement system. The threat has forced Mr Cameron to tone down his ambitions for any deal to curb EU immigration.
Legatum Institute's 2014 Prosperity Index reveals Norway as the most prosperous country in the world, while the Central African Republic finishes bottom of the rankings
Legatum Institute's 2014 Prosperity Index measures a set of eight categories that reveal how nations perform both economically and in vital areas of education, health, personal freedom, safety and security and entrepreneurship. France came 21st in the list, Spain 26th and Italy 37th, while Russia is the worst performing country in Europe, falling seven places to 68th. Chancellor George Osborne said the study provided further international support for the Government's long-term economic plan. He went on: 'Thanks to the difficult decisions we have taken to deliver economic security and control the public finances, we have moved three places up the global rankings. 'It's fantastic to see Britain leading the way for entrepreneurship, personal freedom, health and education.' James Barty, a special adviser to the Institute, added: 'Politicians are often blinkered by what drives national success. 'Although a solid economy is a pre-requisite - and the Government should be proud of its achievements in putting the public finances on a sound footing - other factors are vital when it comes to prosperity.' The index covers 142 countries in the world, accounting for 96 per cent of the world's population and 99 per cent of global GDP. The report found that the UK is one of the top countries in the world for entrepreneurship, ranked 8th worldwide. It singled out the fact that it is ‘relatively easy to start a business, costing only around £66’. There are also strong internet connections while the coalition government ‘have taken a number of steps to increase support for entrepreneurs and this seems to have helped public perceptions with the number of people who believe that hard work pays, growing by 6 per cent, to 84 per cent, since 2009’.
It also found 74 per cent of Brits donate to charity, the 4th highest in the index, compared to 42 per cent in Germany and 26 per cent in France.
France has dropped out of the top 20 for the first time, falling to 21st place. Earlier this month Mr Cameron took a swipe at France's struggling economy, ridiculing its 'nonsense' rule stopping people working more than 35 hours a week.
The Prime Minister said the French 'obsession' with the policy was to blame for the country's unemployment crisis – with more than 10 per cent of the population out of work, while the UK's jobless rate has plummeted to just 6.2 per cent.
Mr Cameron's jibe, which will spark fury in Paris, comes after the International Monetary Fund predicted Britain would overtake France to become the second-biggest economy in Europe next year.
Mr Cameron said France was in danger of falling for the 'nonsense' idea that there were a fixed number of jobs in the economy and that a 35-hour week would help share the work around.
He acknowledged it was 'very dangerous' to point a finger at a fellow European country, but launched an attack on the policy which has remained in place under socialist president Francois Hollande - despite calls for reform from within his own administration.
