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Ireland is
named 'best country' |
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Wednesday, 17 November, 2004
Ireland is the best place to live in the world,
according to a "quality of life" assessment by
The Economist Magazine .
The country's combination of increasing wealth
and traditional values gives it the conditions
most likely to make its people happy, the survey
found.
Ireland was followed by Switzerland, Norway and
Luxembourg. All but one of the top 10 were
European countries.
The USA languished in 13th, while Britain was
29th - the lowest of the pre-expansion EU
nations.
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Dubliners have reason to be cheerful,
the survey finds
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The survey was
prepared for the Economist's "World in 2005"
publication, with the remit: "Where will be the
best place to live in 2005?"
Researchers took into account not just income,
but other factors considered important to
people's satisfaction and well-being.
They included health, freedom, unemployment,
family life, climate, political stability and
security, gender equality and family and
community life.
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'TOP TEN COUNTRIES'
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
6 Australia
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain
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The Economist Magazine
said: "Ireland wins because it successfully
combines the most desirable elements of the new,
such as low unemployment and political
liberties, with the preservation of certain cosy
elements of the old, such as stable family and
community life."
The magazine admits that measuring quality of
life is not a straightforward thing to do, and
that its findings will have their critics -
"except, of course, in Ireland".
Breakdown in Britain
The Republic has made significant gains from its
membership of the EU, earning the soubriquet
Celtic Tiger for its economic progress.
Commentators say it is widely admired by the
EU's newest members, and has become a model for
what they hope to achieve.
Although European nations generally do well in
the survey, the continent's major industrial
powers of France, Germany and Britain finish
25th, 26th and 29th respectively.
The researchers said although the UK achieved
high income per head, it had high levels of
social and family breakdown.
The worst of the 111 countries to live in was
considered to be Zimbabwe, "where things have
gone from bad to worse under [President] Robert
Mugabe".
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