tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post8798234807130723245..comments2024-01-12T01:56:21.933-08:00Comments on chokka blog: Look at our GDP/Capita; Look at IrelandKevin Haguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14587343060415859159noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603438996450817644.post-47444074631575982902015-06-05T10:23:35.778-07:002015-06-05T10:23:35.778-07:00Your attack on Business on Scotland here is entire...Your attack on Business on Scotland here is entirely unjustified. You are taking a Tweet and placing it into the context of your own discussion. It is simply a Tweet on a Forbes List with the original source cited. The Tweet makes no assertions about the data. If that is the criteria for 'risible' I could equally label your blog the same.<br /><br />Secondly, I took your (slightly patronizing) advice and looked closer at the http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org site.<br /><br />I found that Ireland ranks higher than the UK - averaged over all 11 indices, you only mentioned the indices where it ranked lower. It is the facts you miss out which makes me suspect your objectivity and balance.<br /><br />However I agree with you wholeheartedly about GDP. Here is an excellent TED talk on the subject of the "Social Progress Index" explaining why GDP is pretty awful generally.<br />https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_green_what_the_social_progress_index_can_reveal_about_your_country?language=en<br /><br />The one index that really matters to me on that OECD list is 'Life Satisfaction' and again its the usual suspects which rank the highest Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden. Whilst I believe your stats to be accurate and your motives to be pure Kevin, it will take a huge number of these blogs before you can convince me that an independent Scotland would not be capable of joining these mature western democracies on that list.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />fork boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08480560459501527212noreply@blogger.com