Presenting the 2015 Annual Global Prosperity Index  

 

Is Utopia for real? Utopia is just an imaginary concept referring to a place where social conditions, government and laws are perfect. Utopia is not real but there are some countries that come near to it. You have to acknowledge that some countries continue to make things better for their people and they deserve to be commended.

This is why The Legatum Institute conducts its annual Global Prosperity Index. The Index gives recognition to prosperous countries at the same time motivate others to follow their lead. The Legatum Institute did not just consider the money as a sign of prosperity, they also included eighty nine variables like employment rate, per capita gross domestic product, internet servers and many more.

These variables are then divided into eight sub-indexes like education, economy, governance, safety and security and personal freedom. There were about one hundred forty two countries included in the list. Here are the top countries:

1. Norway: Still the number one most prosperous country in the world (actually for seven years in a row), Norway is way ahead of its league.
2. Switzerland: Switzerland is the number two most prosperous country in the world (for three consecutive years actually). The nation topped the governance index.
3. Denmark: Denmark is another wonder when it comes to education, governance and social-capita. Danes are proud of this because they climbed one notch from last year’s number four.
4. New Zealand: The Kiwi life never fail to amaze us. In fact, New Zealand is the most prosperous non-European country. When it comes to social capital, they are the best.
5. Sweden: Sweden is also blessed to be the number five most prosperous country in the world – one place up from last year’s number six. The country boasts of high levels of opportunity and entrepreneurship.
6. Canada: Though it fell one place, Canada is still the nation where its citizens feel the highest levels of freedom.
7. Australia: Australia remained untouched at number seven for three consecutive years now. Australia is considered with the finest education system in the world.
8. Netherlands: Netherlands is one of the most prosperous countries at number eight. The country boasts of the best education as well as health.
9. Finland: Last year, Finland was at number eight but because of its poor economy this year, it fell one place behind.
10. Ireland: Ireland boasts of the best safety and security measures. In fact, it surpassed two places this year.

Singapore has a lot to learn from these countries being in the 17th spot.

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The Best City Skylines in the World  

 

Who says that nature only has the best view? Even if we are in the city, there is still beauty in tall buildings and skyscrapers. In every city, there is a unique skyline and Emporis attempted to seek the best. Emporis released its 2014 list of the best skylines in the world.

The rank depends on different factors. Emporis looked at the number of high rise buildings (from twelve to thirty nine floors) and skyscrapers (from forty floors or more) in major cities – the taller the buildings, the higher their value. However, bridges, TV towers and other structures are not included in count.

Here’s the list:

• Hong Kong: Hong Kong has the best skylines in the world with 7,773 high rise buildings nestled in 1, 053 square kilometres of land.
• New York City: The second best skyline in the world is New York City with 6,041 high rise buildings nestled in 800 square kilometres of land.
• Singapore: Singapore is the third best skyline in the world with 4,486 high rise buildings nestled in 710 square kilometres of land.
• Seoul: Seoul is the fourth best skyline in the world with 3, 001 high rise buildings nestled in 616 square kilometres of land.

• Dubai: Dubai is the fifth best skyline in the world with 650 high rise buildings nestled in 3, 885 square kilometres of land.
• Chicago: Chicago is the sixth best skyline in the world with 1, 1153 high rise buildings in 589 square kilometres of land.
• Sao Paulo: Sao Paulo is included in the list being the seventh best skyline in the world with 5, 706 high rise buildings nestled in 1, 523 square kilometres of land.
• Shanghai: Shanghai is the eighth best skyline in the world with 1, 010 high rise buildings nestled in 6, 639 square kilometres of land.
• Bangkok: Bangkok is the ninth best skyline in the world with 913 high rise buildings nestled in 1, 569 kilometres of land.
• Tokyo: Tokyo is the tenth best skyline in the world with 2, 765 high rise buildings nestled in 621 kilometres of land.
• Moscow: Moscow is the eleventh best skyline in the world with 4, 391 high rise buildings nestled in 1, 081 square kilometres of land.
• Guangzhou: Guangzhou is the twelfth best skyline in the world with 521 tall buildings nestled in 7, 434 square kilometres of land.

The list goes on. If we notice, the top five consist more of Asian countries. This goes to show that we are not at par with other regions when it comes to infrastructures.

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Countries with the Highest Electronic Wastes  

Here in Singapore, many people buy new electrical and electronic items every day. This means additional sales for electrical and electronic companies but for the environment, it means mountain of wastes. Singapore is environmentally conscious but there are people who ignore it and still continue to purchase electrical and electronic items.

We have to be aware that the “mountain of electrical and electronic wastes” is our own doing. We have to be conscious of our purchase if we do not want wastes to invade our spaces. The United Nations (UN) is alarmed. In fact, the United Nations University compiled a report about the electrical and electronic wastes.

In 2013, UN identified that e-waste total reached 39.8 million tonnes and with the present trend, we will reach the 50 million tonne mark at the end of 2018 – which is in the not so distant future. Here are the countries with the most electrical and electronic wastes:

• Norway: Norway is the country with the most electrical and electronic wastes. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 28.9 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• Switzerland: Norway is followed by Switzerland. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 26.3 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• Iceland: Iceland is the third country with the most wastes. Each inhabitant recorded an average of 26.1 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• Denmark: In Denmark, each inhabitant recorded an average of 24 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• Britain: In Britain, each inhabitant recorded an average of 23.5 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• The Netherlands: In the Netherlands, each inhabitant recorded an average of 23.4 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• France: Each inhabitant in France recorded an average of 22.2 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.
• United States and Austria: Each inhabitant in United States and Austria recorded an average of 22.1 kilograms of electrical and electronic wastes.

Thankfully Singapore is not on the list but we have to be conscious of our wastes.

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