Don

Just got my free copy of The Economist's Pocket World in Figures (2004) so here's the lowdown for 2003.

GDP per head (in USD)

UK 23920
Aus 19070
NZ 13240

But it's smarter to use PPP or purchasing power parity to really compare what standard of living your earnings get you:

PPP per head (where USA = 100)

UK 71.0
Aus 71.8
NZ 53.2

So no more moaning you Aussies! It's official: Aus enjoys a better (average) standard of living than UK.

(I reckon the proportion of people in part-time jobs in the respective countries will influence this quite strongly.)

Edit: Also the number of families with 2 earners must influence this a lot, too.

scoobydoo

Thanks for that Don! Will keep all of us "want to go backers" quiet for a bit!

In our experience we would have a better standard of life if I could get work and we wern't renting......but a better quality of life?!

Boomerang

I do agree that the standard of living is better in Australia in many aspect, but current figures stated that : "Industrial relations and workers rights have gone backwards. Under Howard, Costello, Abbott etc 40% of all new jobs created are casual or temporary" And now to add to this statistic Qantas will transfer if i can remember around 1000 ( Cabin Crew ) jobs off-shore to the Uk

Don

Here's another one on quality of life from the UN's Human development index. It measures economic welfare, a learning or knowledge variable and life expectancy. Top is Norway at 94.2.

UK 92.8
Aus 93.9
NZ 91.7

Peter

The US has a higher GDP and PPP per capita than the UK, Australia and NZ yet between 10-15% of its population live below the poverty line according to US statistics. It depends obviously on what income they class as median poverty at any given time, still it's a sad statistic.

wmoore

That's what happens if you put Abbot & Costello in charge. Have you Aussie voters never seen their films?

wmoore

That's gotta be a first hasn't it? I thought that UK companies were off-shoring all their jobs to India and Oz to Singapore and Thailand?

Boomerang

Yes BT if im not mistaken opened a call centre in India, but im sure there is more...

Well im not sure where Qantas will save money transfering Cabin Crew to the Uk, but im sure they have their reasons.

bridiej

BT, most of the big banks and mobile phone operators, directory enquiries - you name it they've shipped off to India!

HiddenPaw

Yes, many Australian companies have done the same too...e.g. Telstra, Optus, GE Capital..and so on.... all have call centres in India. China, Phillipines & Malaysia are also popular locations too for Aussie call centres.

MikeStanton

But, as far as I recall, PPP doesn't take into account net wealth - eg net equity in the home. Given that the average UK house is worth a lot more than its Oz ad US equivalents - it would be interesting to see the comparisons.

A more informative site that sources its information from various places is NationMaster at www.nationmaster.com

- there you can compare economies, crime stats etc

bridiej

What does GDP mean?

walla

GDP= gross domestic product

MikeStanton

Not Gone Down Pub?

bridiej

Thank you !

Although I prefer Mike's answer LOL