The Legatum Prosperity Index has nothing to do with Prosperity
Whereas I would measure Prosperity by large Disposable Wealth
High Quality of Life
High Living Standards
High GDP Per Captia
The Second Highest Average Wage:
6th Highest Nominal GDP Per Capita behind 2 non Oil Rich Countries.
Number #1 in Household Income
12th Highest in GDP Per Capita Purchasing Power. Only 4 non Oil Rich Nations score higher then the US.
Household net adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In the United States, the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 41 071 a year, much higher than the OECD average of USD 29 016 and the highest figure in the OECD.
Household financial wealth is the total value of a household’s financial worth, such as money or shares held in bank accounts. In the United States, the average household net financial wealth per capita is estimated at USD 163 268, considerably higher than the OECD average of USD 84 547 and the highest figure in the OECD.
Among OECD Nations the United States ranks first in Household net adjusted disposable income with the average family making 41,071 USD
Happiness, quality of life and such” rankings are arbitrary rankings put together with duct tape that have always been rigged by the left to push their political agendas. The only good metrics to measure national welfare are the per-capita GDP (PPP) and the median income (PPP). The former is if you want to measure potential for long-term growth, and the latter is a screenshot of the current time and welfare of the middle class.
On both these metrics, the U.S. does very well.
Median income:
(do note how libertarian New Hampshire is right at the top)
Per-capita GDP (PPP):
All these metrics — HDI, quality of life, general happiness, whatever, they’re all deplorably collectivist, metrics built upon the Hegelian, progressive idea that individuals are too stupid to know what’s good for themselves.
If you have a higher median income, it means your citizens can buy themselves a higher life expectancy, a lower infant mortality rate, quality of life (read: pretty fountains), thinner phones, marijuana, whatever, depending on what they prioritise in their lives. On the other hand when the government diverts resources from this to maximising other metrics, they are distorting individual preferences and behaving like a nanny state.
The Index however measures based on Public Opinion and not fact. So while Americans may think their country is 17th in terms of Prosperity. Its actually Top 3 if we exclude Oil Rich Nations. Overall its nothing to take seriously. Just a subjective list.
