›
This forum is in permanent archive mode. Our new active community can be found here.

Which Country is the Best Country?

lackofcheeselackofcheese
edited December 2012 in Flamewars
Pursuant to discussion in another thread, in which it was unabashedly stated that the U.S. is not the greatest and best country in the world, an important question arises - which country is, in fact, the best country?

Below are some of the most important indices I could find; they should serve as a reasonable starting point for judging "best country" status.

PAX Index:
1. United States (2)
2. Australia (1)
3. Any other country (0)
[...]
Not included: Somalia [and others]

Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index
1. Norway (0.890)
2. Australia (0.856)
3. Sweden (0.851)
4. Netherlands (0.846)
5. Iceland (0.845)
6. Ireland (0.843)
7. Germany (0.842)
8. Denmark (0.842)
9. Switzerland (0.840)
10. Slovenia (0.837)
[...]
23. United States (0.771)
[...]
Not included: Somalia [and others, including New Zealand]

Human Development Index
1. Norway (0.943)
2. Australia (0.929)
3. Netherlands (0.910)
4. United States (0.910)
5. New Zealand (0.908)
6. Canada (0.908)
7. Ireland (0.908)
8. Liechtenstein (0.905)
9. Germany (0.905)
10. Sweden (0.904)
[...]
Not included: Somalia [and others]

Democracy Index
1. Norway (9.80)
2. Iceland (9.65)
3. Denmark (9.52)
4. Sweden (9.50)
5. New Zealand (9.26)
6. Australia (9.22)
7. Switzerland (9.09)
8. Canada (9.08)
9. Finland (9.06)
10. Netherlands (8.99)
[...]
19. United States (8.11)
[...]
Not included: Somalia [and others]

Global Peace Index
1. Iceland (1.113)
2. Denmark (1.239)
3. New Zealand (1.239)
4. Canada (1.317)
5. Japan (1.326)
6. Austria (1.328)
6. Ireland (1.328)
8. Slovenia (1.330)
9. Finland (1.348)
10. Switzerland (1.349)
[...]
18. Norway (1.480)
[...]
22. Australia (1.494)
[...]
88. United States (2.058)
[...]
158. Somalia (3.392)

Index of Economic Freedom
Hong Kong (89.9) (not a country)
1. Singapore (87.5)
2. Australia (83.1)
3. New Zealand (82.1)
4. Switzerland (81.1)
5. Canada (79.9)
6. Chile (78.3)
7. Mauritius (77.0)
8. Ireland (76.9)
9. United States (76.3)
10. Denmark (76.2)
[...]
40. Norway (68.8)
[...]
Not included: Somalia [and others]
Post edited by lackofcheese on
«134

Comments

  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited December 2012
    I think the following would also be useful:
    - Eukaryote Venomousness Index: this would give countries other than Australia a fair go, although there remains a question of whether being more venomous would result in a higher or lower ranking on this index.
    - A combination of all of the relevant indices here, using an appropriate formula (or at least weightings based on importance)

    Also, it would be nice if I had realized that I failed at linking before it was too late. Oh well.
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    As I stated in another thread, Norway is my guess at the "best country", though the indices presented reveal a couple of weaknesses. Also, given the absence of data, Somalia could hypothetically be at the top of the rankings. We have no way of knowing for sure.
  • IkatonoIkatono
    Your first anchor is not in fact a link.
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited December 2012
    Yeah; I meant to link here but it's already too late to fix it now due to the 30 minute timer.

    It was several posts focused on patriotism / nationalism, especially in the U.S.; I figure this thread's title implicitly makes it an appropriate place to discuss those issues now.

    Also,
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • chaosof99chaosof99
    edited December 2012
    Just so I can pimp my home country, Austria is 19th in the absolute and 14th in the adjusted Human Development Index, 6th on the Global Peace Index, 13th on the International Property Rights Index, and is probably high up there on the Democracy Index (though I don't have the exact number). Plus, we don't have (most of) the ridiculous censorship laws that Germany has.

    Austria is also rather safe from natural catastrophes, being mostly mountainous (thus mostly protected from storms), not in an earthquake heavy area, mostly a pretty good amount above sea level (rising oceans and such). There can be flooding in certain areas on occasion due to heavy rainfall, but these are very rare, and I don't think any area close to a source of water is protected from that. There is also not a single nuclear power plant in the entire country if you care about potential radiation hazards in the wake of any natural disaster, but that is also a minus for the country in terms of energy production. Most of its local energy production is from natural sources (water and solar), but it has to buy energy from other countries. It is also not a big name player on a political world stage, so terrorist attacks are also not really a concern.

    The climate is also mild. It gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter, enough for snowfall. Also, the countryside is absolutely stunningly beautiful, but I guess everybody could say that about every country. My area is particularly dotted with lakes, which are great for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Oh yeah, we do have hockey :)

    But no, Austria is far from perfect, particularly in the part where I live in which some xenophobic assholes unfortunately have put down their political roots. But hey, we're trying.

    As far as my experience has gone, if I couldn't live in Austria, I would probably most likely want to live in Sweden, Canada or Australia. Japan could also be cool, but from what I am told it can be rather tricky since japan can also be rather xenophobic. Germany would also be okay, since it is culturally pretty much identical to austria, but that isn't necessarily a prime factors for my decision, since the internet makes cultural exchange possible everywhere.
    Post edited by chaosof99 on
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited December 2012
    But no, Austria is far from perfect, particularly in the part where I live in which some xenophobic assholes unfortunately have put down their political roots.
    That brings up an interesting question - which country is the least xenophobic? As far as I can tell, xenophobia is an issue present in almost all countries; it is perhaps a natural result of the very idea of and existence of countries.

    EDIT: I made a guess and some quick Googling made me think I was totally wrong. I'm not even going to put an idea forth here, I have no clue.
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • AndrewAndrew
    image
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited December 2012
    If only.
    Also, it would suck to be left out of that image; I'm sure at least some states without full recognition are.

    Something like this is probably better:
    image
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • XefasXefas
    If only.
    In a tang sort of way? Or a cultural sort of way?
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    In a not killing each other sort of way.
  • chaosof99chaosof99
    We're all going to wave around Old Freebie soon enough.
    image
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    In a not killing each other sort of way.
    Alternatively, Human Instrumentality Project.
  • SailSail
    edited December 2012
    Are we including more comfort-based factors, like climate? Because Norway may be a socialist paradise, but it seems far too cold. And Australia scares me because of poisonous animals.
    Post edited by Sail on
  • lackofcheeselackofcheese
    edited December 2012
    Yes. Also food.

    That said, "best" is not really the same thing as "best to live in". Also different is "best to be born in", but that would tend to be highly skewed towards median wealth, especially since that wealth would also be more likely to grant you the ability to move to another country.
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • AprecheApreche
    Don't forget Internet quality and freedom. Access to culture like movies being in theaters on time. Available jobs. Cost of living. Lack of natural disasters. And so much more.

    If one place were obviously the best, I would move there. And I did. No place is perfect, but NYC is basically the center of the world. Nowhere to go but down, or space.
  • ChurbaChurba
    edited December 2012
    If one place were obviously the best, I would move there. And I did. No place is perfect, but NYC is basically the center of the world. Nowhere to go but down, or space.
    I would have put a tenner for a five down that this is what Scott was going to say(or at least, something to this effect, if not the exact words in exact order), but that would be less gambling, and more simply taking people's money.

    That said, it two things should be pointed out - First, one cannot judge an entire country by a single city alone, no matter how nice the city. Second, NYC is not a country. Big, (Self)Important, culturally and economically relevant, I'll grant you, but it's still just a city.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • AprecheApreche
    NYC might as well be a city-state.
  • ChurbaChurba
    edited December 2012
    NYC might as well be a city-state.
    With the main export being arrogance. NYC, big as it is, relies on being part of the US for it's success. If NYC suddenly become completely independent of the US government in all but trade, like most other countries, it would collapse within a decade, if that. New York City, for all it's importance, is a symbiotic creature. Without the host, it dies. (Admittedly, the host wouldn't exactly be in great condition, either - credit where credit is due.)

    But that's irrelevant, because there is a massive, massive gap between a wishful thinking "Might as well be" and the reality that is. What you think is that it might as well be a city-state. What IS, however, remains - New York city is not a country.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • Luke BurrageLuke Burrage
    I bet NYC could survive as some kind of Hong Kong or Singapore type enclave.
  • SchnevetsSchnevets
    When we do unite into one planetary sovereign, I really hope that the flag doesn't have the Earth on it. Some countries would get shafted out of space on that symbol. Also, drawing the globe accurately sounds like an annoying task that I wouldn't want to inflict on my great great great great great great grandclones.
  • SailSail
    Yes. Also food.
    Oh fuck. This changes everything.
  • ChurbaChurba
    edited December 2012
    I bet NYC could survive as some kind of Hong Kong or Singapore type enclave.
    That's more likely. HK is supported by China, and Singapore is a trade, tourism and industry hub, set up to be one from the start, in the middle of an area rich with countries, a wonderful location, and has ended up with a GDP larger than the US according to the IMF.

    If NYC broke off and formed something in between the two - A US backed independent city state, an independent hub of trading, industry and finance but with close ties to it's parent nation but with the freedom of being semi-independent, that'd work out pretty well. As long as you prepared for it a little beforehand, I guess.
    Post edited by Churba on
  • WalkerWalker
    edited December 2012
    Yes. Also food.
    Oh fuck. This changes everything.
    What do people eat in Norway?
    Post edited by Walker on
  • WalkerWalker
    From the metrics presented so far, my vote goes to Australia. I weight economic freedom pretty heavily in terms of bestestness, it's warm, and venemous organisms are cool.
  • loltsundereloltsundere
    edited December 2012
    image
    BELIEVE IN YOUR FIRE LORD
    Post edited by loltsundere on
  • TheWhaleSharkTheWhaleShark
    Yes. Also food.
    Oh fuck. This changes everything.
    What do people eat in Norway?
    Fish. Also potatoes.

  • nothingnothing
    Having lived, or spent a significant amount of time in most of the countries mentioned here, I must ad that whilst a country can be "better" in a hollistic, or statistical sense. One must consider these things individually as well.

    How are your skills valued in the economy, are people nice. Do you LIKE the culture? Swedes are rude and cold, but beautiful — Americans are pretty annoying to the absolute majority of other cultures. Brits are strange, and diverse in mysterious ways. Australia is pretty dope - but suuuuper far away, and sometimes there is much bbq and litte work.

    I live in scotland atm. its dope, everyone drinks ale at lunch and really interesting things are happening in arts/culture/design spaces. But honestly, if your not privileged minority it pretty shitty — poverty, crime etc.


    then again, the idea of a country, or a culture as superior is pretty pathetic in the first place.
  • WalkerWalker
    Australia is pretty dope - but suuuuper far away, and sometimes there is much bbq and litte work.
    Those are all positives in my book.

  • nothingnothing
    Often in mine too, but im trying to pull of some projects involving knowing people right now. So there you go.

    One day I will be super rich, and then I can do as I want.

    Till then, one must compromise.
  • GregGreg
    Australia is pretty dope - but suuuuper far away, and sometimes there is much bbq and litte work.
    Those are all positives in my book.

    The being suuuuuuper far away part isn't in mine. I get bored if I stay in one place for too long. It's kind of my main anxiety right now, having lived in Boston my whole life.
Sign In or Register to comment.