Useful Links

W2R · 07-19-2017, 05:43 PM

Decline in retirement happiness? They sure didn't ask ME about it..

Louisiana and Mississippi always seem to be at the bottom of all the "good lists", and at the top of all the "bad lists". But despite that fact, retirement is heaven on earth for me, and also affordable here in Louisiana.

NW-Bound · 07-19-2017, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan

US falls to 17th in Global Retirement Index
Canada drops out of top 10 as well.

Well, what if Canadian and American retirees are not less happy than before, but other countries are getting happier?

The scale is relative and not absolute, right?

Happiness is just a state of mind anyway.

rdy2go · 07-19-2017, 06:47 PM

Apparently the person that did this survey hasn't talked to me or RobbieB! It must be a sad life having to come up with articles and surveys looking to depress people. Everything seems to be gloom and doom in the media. I think retirement in the United States is wonderful and I strongly recommend it to everyone I know that is nearing the end of their working years.

bUU · 07-19-2017, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound

Well, what if Canadian and American retirees are not less happy than before, but other countries are getting happier?

That would indicate that the United States is stagnating while other nations are ascending.

NW-Bound · 07-19-2017, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bUU

That would indicate that the United States is stagnating while other nations are ascending.

We will be catching up soon, with all those laws legalizing MJ.

Never tried it, but in movies I always saw old people giggling after doing a joint.

photoguy · 07-19-2017, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh

I respectfully beg to disagree with you on the bolded point, having lived in both countries.

I also disagree with you on Canada's immigration system, which favours people with in-demand skills.

+1

There's a huge difference in social mobility in Can vs US. I suspect many of the factors that lead to increased mobility also cause can to score higher in the OP study.

Scuba · 07-20-2017, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator

I wonder if it has to do with whether or not the government provides for a person's retirement, or an individual has to provide for themselves. Here in the USA, we have SS to help retirement, not provide 100% of the funding.

I have heard that many other countries, provide a much better government pension.

+1
Socialist countries seem high on the list.

brucethebroker · 07-20-2017, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator

I wonder if it has to do with whether or not the government provides for a person's retirement, or an individual has to provide for themselves. Here in the USA, we have SS to help retirement, not provide 100% of the funding.

I have heard that many other countries, provide a much better government pension.

+1-was wondering the same.

Also, if they have "free" govt. provided health care, or they allow retirement with full pension at 50-55. Those would make a BIG difference on the happy meter!

Dash man · 07-20-2017, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scuba

+1
Socialist countries seem high on the list.

Where does Venezuela fall on the list?

Big_Hitter · 07-20-2017, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator

I wonder if it has to do with whether or not the government provides for a person's retirement, or an individual has to provide for themselves. Here in the USA, we have SS to help retirement, not provide 100% of the funding.

I have heard that many other countries, provide a much better government pension.

that has a lot to do with it - I'm almost certain all of the countries listed above the US have a tier 1 "universal demogrant" program. For example, a tier 1 program provides subsistence level benefits to anyone turning age 65 with no needs test.

SS is considered a Tier 2 program, similar to Canada's CPP.

If it makes you feel any better all of those countries have much higher tax rates to pay for those benefits.

ExFlyBoy5 · 07-20-2017, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdy2go

Apparently the person that did this survey hasn't talked to me or RobbieB! It must be a sad life having to come up with articles and surveys looking to depress people. Everything seems to be gloom and doom in the media. I think retirement in the United States is wonderful and I strongly recommend it to everyone I know that is nearing the end of their working years.

Yeah, they didn't ask me, either.

Big_Hitter · 07-20-2017, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdy2go

Apparently the person that did this survey hasn't talked to me or RobbieB! It must be a sad life having to come up with articles and surveys looking to depress people. Everything seems to be gloom and doom in the media. I think retirement in the United States is wonderful and I strongly recommend it to everyone I know that is nearing the end of their working years.

retirement in the US is great if you've saved enough $$$ or have a pension (like most er.org forum members)

the majority don't and that's why US residents are working well past age 65; they can't afford to retire on $50K 401k balances plus SS

6miths · 07-20-2017, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepford

In retirement happiness, as in so many things these days, we are a stratified society. I would bet the top 10-20% of NW retirees in the US would find themselves comfortably at or near the top of that survey - while sadly (and perhaps disgracefully) the bottom 50% might prove not much more comfortable than retirees in the developing world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko

Same as it ever was.

Actually seems not to be the case. I am reading a book called 'The Crisis of the Middle Class Constitution - Why Economic Inequality Threatens our Republic'. It is a discussion of how the US Constitution as it was written was dependent on equality and a strong middle class and reviews several economic indicators. It turns out that in the late 1700's the top 1% of Americans earned 8% of all income (this included slaves in the population) as opposed to 19% in 2012. The Gini coefficient at that time was 0.441 (again including slaves) and 0.409 not including slaves. The Gini coefficient in 2012 was 0.463 and this is after taxes and transfer payments to the poor. In the late 1700s in the most equalitarian countries in Europe (UK and Holland) the Gini's were at or just above 0.6. Europe's Gini coefficients have dropped dramatically since the 1780s while America's have risen. The last time America had Gini's similar to 1780s was in 1973.

The list given is very close to the ranking of Gini scores which is a rating of income inequality (i.e. the fewer relatively very poor and very rich, the happier people are). Norway's current Gini score is 0.259. Canada's is 0.336. The US is 0.411 with Russia next on the list at 0.416 (Gulp!).

6miths · 07-20-2017, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex The Great

Well, as regarding our north neighbor, I do not see any reason for their happiness other than health care system. Because in fact Canada (especially Ontario part) is pretty much the same as US in almost every aspect. But still, moving north is not easy: you need to be an investor or have close relative in order to obtain residence in Canada: otherwise, you're not qualified for happiness.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh

I respectfully beg to disagree with you on the bolded point, having lived in both countries.

I also disagree with you on Canada's immigration system, which favours people with in-demand skills.

I always seem to be agreeing with Meadbh. Not that Canadians are prone to fighting or even being rude Alex but your words would be greeted with "Them's fightin' words." by most Canadians. Superficially the countries look very similar and more and moreso thanks to multinational corporations but there are many significant differences in addition to healthcare systems.

Breedlove · 07-20-2017, 09:11 AM

Not wanting to be political , I think a lot has to do how the tax dollar is spent , and on things that help people . One time in Amsterdam I seen a guy pull up an brand new Harley Davidson . I was admiring the new bike and I asked the guy how much for a new HD in the Netherlands , he told me 50,000.00 EU. I said wow , and asked how much was the taxes on that bike . He told me nearly 50% and also said he was happy paying the taxes because he felt he got is money's worth . I don't feel we as people get our money's worth in the U S