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Ireland has climbed to be ranked 2nd in the world out of 189 countries in a United Nations index measuring longevity education and wealth.
What's behind the country's rapid climb since the index was launched in 1990? I spoke to lead author @pedrotconceicao https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-ranked-second-in-the-world-for-quality-of-life-beating-sweden-germany-and-uk-1.4440009
What's behind the country's rapid climb since the index was launched in 1990? I spoke to lead author @pedrotconceicao https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-ranked-second-in-the-world-for-quality-of-life-beating-sweden-germany-and-uk-1.4440009
A few interesting things in summary:
- it's more to do with a rapid increase in average education than it is with economic growth, though that is significant (Ireland's economy basically doubled)
- it's more to do with a rapid increase in average education than it is with economic growth, though that is significant (Ireland's economy basically doubled)
- the economic growth aspect is not inflated by the presence of multinationals in Ireland. The index uses a different measure to GDP (GNI) specifically to avoid that distortion
- Ireland does pretty well all round but it's remarkably, notably bad on one specific measure of gender equality: the percentage of women in parliament.
It's less than one in four, which is way below comparable countries like New Zealand and Denmark which are like 40/60
It's less than one in four, which is way below comparable countries like New Zealand and Denmark which are like 40/60
- when you adjust for inequality within the country, Ireland does move down the scale and is overtaken by Iceland and Finland. This is mostly due to inequality in wealth, rather than in education or life expectancy.
Nevertheless, the level of inequality is below the OECD average.
Nevertheless, the level of inequality is below the OECD average.
I told @pedrotconceicao that I expected people in Ireland would look at this ranking sceptically because it doesn't cohere with prevalent perceptions in the country. This led to quite an interesting conversation...
He wasn't able to comment on Ireland specifically, but this is apparently quite a global phenomenon. The UN conducted a study of this last year and found severe gaps in many countries between perceptions of the level of economic inequality, and what the data shows.
Essentially even when conditions have improved, expectations have risen faster.
"Our interpretation is that it is to do with expectations and aspirations not being met," he said. "A segment of the population that feels it is being left behind."
"Our interpretation is that it is to do with expectations and aspirations not being met," he said. "A segment of the population that feels it is being left behind."
