Looks like many either don't know or appreciate how good we have it

[izabsmiling]

In the whole scheme of things 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100768322

Australia Happiest Place to Live for a Third Year: OECD

  Published: Monday, 27 May 2013 | 10:03 PM ETBy: Rajeshni Naidu-Ghelani

For the third year in a row, Australia has taken the top prize for being the happiest place to live in the advanced world, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Better Life Index.

The annual index ranks the world's 34 industrialized economies based on key criteria such as jobs, health, environment, education and income and Australia was the only Asia-Pacific country to find a place in the top 10.

Sydney-based John Horner, forex strategist at Deutsche Bank, said Australia topping the list is worth remembering at a time when there's negativity going around about the country's economic outlook over the past month or so.

how does that compare with ?

Australians: whingers and worriers DateApril 4, 2013

So it’s official: Australians have overtaken the Poms in the whingeing stakes. And not content with being world champion whingers, we’re working up our worrying act as well.

Never mind Australia being an island of great relative prosperity, calm and opportunity in a stormy sea of developed world recession and austerity, the spirit of Hanrahan is strong upon the land.

Despite their higher unemployment rate, greater poverty, miserable weather, inferior food, greater obesity, lousy beaches, lower life expectancy, warm, sudsy beer, bleak economic prospects and Coronation Street still being in production,  Brits on average are more satisfied with their lives, more likely to think said lives are “worthwhile” and considered themselves happier and less anxious than the average Australian. It must be the cricket.

The latest NAB Australian wellbeing index compares the local March quarter findings with a similar survey conducted by the British government statistician last year.  

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/australians-whingers-and-worriers-20130404-2h8gg.html#ixzz2XNLqVYYE

[catsnknots]

950 each week?

were are you getting that figure from.........that is huge number

if true very worrying.

would like to think if the number was that high it would be more common knowledge.

I heard this on aBC radio not that long ago.. i was very surprised too. 

[lakeland27]

1 hr a week is counted as being employed... 

part-time under Johnny was the same. the figures collected the same way. ABS.

[azureline**]

I have noticed over the years that if someone is happy, they believe the economy is in good shape. As soon as the happiness pales...... they think the economy is in poor shape.

[lakeland27]

I have noticed over the years that if someone is happy, they believe the economy is in good shape. As soon as the happiness pales...... they think the economy is in poor shape.

it's all relative..

[kilroy_is_here]

or the 900.000 odd jobs created kilroy, or an economy they have grown by 14 per cent..

unviable small business have always failed, i destroyed at least 2 under John howard 🙂

were not talking just small business were talking large mining supply companies , building companies & small business many are long established.

 as to where the facts are im not your secretary you want facts so you can call me a liar get off you but & find them your self

[lakeland27]

so its just a number you pulled out of a hat ?

[kilroy_is_here]

ok its a month not a week but have a look at the increase its alarming

unless of course your a labor supporter the well its all lies anyway & we can just all skip our way to destruction

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/australia/bankruptcies

[lakeland27]

ok its a month not a week but have a look at the increase its alarming

unless of course your a labor supporter the well its all lies anyway & we can just all skip our way to destruction

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/australia/bankruptcies

gee it wasn't me who pointed out the small error . anyone can do that (make a small error) i don't think you a liar either.

[***super_nova***]

part-time under Johnny was the same. the figures collected the same way. ABS.

Yes, that is how the unemployment figures are counted, and always had been, and that is how it is counted everywhere in the world.  So out figures can be compared with any other country and the comparison is correct. 

Businesses may be failing but It is not a problem with unemployment that is the cause; it has been widely acknowledged that buying on the line is what makes the difference.  That has nothing to do with how the economy is performing on the whole.  I wonder how many people, who in the past would have had shops are now running eBay business.  Times are changing and that always bring some pain; when cars started becoming more widespread many farriers went out of business; that is how progress works.

[***super_nova***]

yep tell that to the 950 odd businesses going into liquidation each week month, they have never been luckier

And probably just as many are being started.  It has always been like that; with bit of up and down.