I'm not hashing out a diary. Simply want to provide you with the link to the Legatum Institute's annual Prosperity Index. Lots of interesting graphics in the link.
This is what social democratic welfare systems can do to your country:
5. Sweden — Swedes are blessed with the world's highest levels of entrepreneurship and opportunity, helping the country gain one place in this year's index.
3. Denmark — Danes can enjoy great governance, top-level education, and a high social-capital score. If not for its relatively poor health score (16th), the country might top the whole Index. It climbed one place this year.
1. Norway — The Scandinavian country tops the Prosperity Index once again in 2015. It has been first in each of the past seven years. Norway is the only country ranked in the top 10 of every subindex.
[from Business Insider's link below)
And here's a link to
Business Insider's take on the story:
The Legatum Institute, a think tank based in London, on Monday released its annual global Prosperity Index, a huge survey that ranks what it calls the most prosperous countries in the world.
The amount of money a country has is one factor of prosperity, but the Legatum Institute considered more than that in its ranking.
[...]
The variables are then split into eight subindexes: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom, and social capital.
And what about the US? Not too bad:
11. United States — The world's most powerful country scored higher than any other in the Legatum Institute's health category, but its citizens are among the least safe and secure on this list. The USA was 33rd in this subindex.