sick of this country, what countries provide a better life for people that live there

[redbobblehat]

i'm sick of all these cuts backs, and lies from the goverment

so sick of it i'm actually thinking for the first time, i might perher to bugger off and live elsewhere

dh thinks dubai would be a good bet, but i think as a married woman, it's wouldnt be my first choice

so where would be a good bet

[Morloth]

Jellyfish not sting rays.

Sting rays stab you, not sting.

Ever seen a sunset through a bushfire haze? Is astonishing.

[GothAnneGeddes]

Monaco was only removed from the OECD's blacklist of uncooperative tax havens in 2009.

As for which ever nameless ME country Lurking lives in, I can see why you think everything should be left up to government, it's not as if the people get much say in what they do, is it?

[CoteDAzur]

So what, Goth? If you were trying to back up your earlier assertion that it is unethical for a state to take no income tax from its residents, I don't think you managed it.

[SarahBumBarer]

Australia consistently outperforms the UK on the question of standards of education (also healthcare, life expectancy etc). It is actually much less pot-luck than the UK. People may find better schools in the UK (after deliberately researching and moving into a decent catchment area or paying for it) but you are far less likely to end up in an under-performing school in Australia. University entry system is much fairer too. That's what happens when you invest your tax take in your education/healthcare systems etc rather than servicing your deficit.

Australia has pretty much every climate going - there are whole areas where people have never seen a snake/poisonous spider etc other than on TV.

Also, with regard to the next election, the Liberals are about as Tory as the US democrats are socialist.

[stubbornstains]

I think the OP is to be commended. She has said that she is personally well off, but is worried about what the cuts are doing to those less fortunate than herself.

Please stay here OP! We need people like you- such selflessness is pretty rare. Although I really don't think Dubai is for you if you're worried about social inequality.

Myself, I would go to France. I've been toying with it for years. But it's a country where you need to put a lot in to get a lot out, including, as a newly arrived self employed person, paying tax on income you haven't yet earnt, which rules it out for me until my income has increased.

[Francagoestohollywood]

It is already illegal!!! Swiss banks, for instance, don't share information with investigating teams, see the link.

[LurkingBeagle]

As for which ever nameless ME country Lurking lives in, I can see why you think everything should be left up to government, it's not as if the people get much say in what they do, is it?

GothAnne - everything you post simply convinces me that you have never visited this region, or bothered to read anything about it (except maybe some tripe in the Guardian!). It's rather colonial to dismiss the way other countries choose to run their own affairs - fiscally or otherwise. In fact local people here can access healthcare of a standard people in the UK can only dream of, are given preferential status in recruitment by foreign companies, and receive a lump sum every time they have a child. Conversely, immigrants who lose their jobs have to leave, and it's impossible to get citizenship. I am not saying I agree with all those things, but it's not up to me is it? Living here is a tax-free, crime-free place in the sun is bliss, and it's a compromise I am prepared to make.

[GothAnneGeddes]

Cote - Countries that have very low rates of tax either have high social inequality, or in the case of Monaco, have been funded by more dubious sources of income (hence being on the OECD blacklist).

I think I've made my point perfectly well.

[Pigsmummy]

Canada is special, Toronto especially. For the price of a house here you could get a city dwelling and a "cottage" on the lake or mountain (depending if you like skiing/hiking or water side living). They call it a cottage but really they mean their second home. "cottages" can be apartments, chalets, houses etc. You can finish early on a Friday and head there, families have a great quality of life.

I was struck by much happier everyone was there compare to my London colleagues, I would have taken up the offer to relocate to our Toronto office but my Mum was ill and now circumstances have changed.

[CoteDAzur]

Franca - I have read that link, now for the 3rd time, and can't find where it supposedly says Swiss banks don't give info to Italian police.

I suppose that is what you mean by "investigating teams". If there is a crime, police would be involved, and repatriation of the criminal would be demanded.

Anyway, I think your understanding of this issue is incorrect. Switzerland used to distinguish between tax evasion and tax fraud, and only cooperate with investigations into the latter. Since 2009, I think you will find that they cooperate also with investigations into tax evasion for foreign nationals.

Is this still not acceptable? Would you like to try to prevent Italians from becoming Swiss?

[CoteDAzur]

"Countries that have very low rates of tax either have high social inequality, or in the case of Monaco, have been funded by more dubious sources of income"

Your self-assurance in view of an almost-complete lack of information is quite astonishing

Monaco's income is mainly from VAT (~ 20%), i.e. from consumption rather than the money you earn but don't spend. Also, about 25% of the country's income is from tourism (Yacht Show, F1 Grand Prix, etc).

"I think I've made my point perfectly well."

It's a bit sad that you seem to think so, but hey ho

[GothAnneGeddes]

Right. So the OECD blacklisted Monaco just for a lark then?

And all that money spent on consumption is entirely legally held?

[Francagoestohollywood]

Fine, you are the expert then

[CoteDAzur]

Goth - I'm not sure what you are talking about, or even if you know what you are talking about.

"So the OECD blacklisted Monaco just for a lark then?"

From OECD's website:
In a report issued in 2000, the OECD identified a number of jurisdictions as tax havens according to criteria it had established... Seven jurisdictions (Andorra, The Principality of Liechtenstein, Liberia, The Principality of Monaco, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Republic of Nauru and The Republic of Vanuatu) did not make commitments to transparency and exchange of information at that time and were identified in April 2002 by the OECD?s Committee on Fiscal Affairs as unco-operative tax havens. All of these jurisdictions subsequently made commitments and were removed from the list of unco-operative tax havens. ... As a result, no jurisdiction is currently listed as an unco-operative tax haven by the Committee on Fiscal Affairs.

So there is no such list now because nobody is on it. What on earth are you talking about?

"And all that money spent on consumption is entirely legally held?"

What does this sentence mean?!? (Is it even English?)

Not "money spent on consumption". I'm talking about VAT ("Value Added Tax") which is levied on prices everyone is charged. It is tax (so good, by your standards, presumably) so yes it is "legally held" by the state.

... unless you are about to say some states aren't legally entitled to tax revenues if they are not "ethical" enough. Please try to argue this, I'd really love to see it

[CoteDAzur]

Franca - I don't think I am an expert, especially on Italian laws.

However, I know quite a bit about finance & banking laws and will happily point out the errors in your posts

And, as I said, there was nothing in that link you provided that said Switzerland doesn't cooperate with investigators (as you were claiming).

[Francagoestohollywood]

Thanks, I thought Swiss banks penchant for discretion was known of www.economist.com/node/21547229

[ukatlast]

redbobblehat
Since your main source of dissatisfaction seems to be the current Government, can I point out that because you are lucky enough to live in a democracy, you can vote to remove said Government at the next election. They are not ahead in the Polls after all.
I have been an expat in an EU country and in NZ because of my OH's job and can confirm that even with a high expat salary, there is no utopia. The grass isn't always greener and even with a Tory Government, the UK is great.
Most people who leave the UK seem to do so because they read too much Daily Mail and believe it.

[CheerfulYank]

It really depends on what you're looking for.

I live in a small town in the US. People are friendly, houses are big and cheap, lots of land to get outdoors in, safe streets, etc. DH makes decent money. We're not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but here we can live pretty well on what he makes, and our insurance through his job is good. And we always have hot summers for going to lake cabins (everyone's got one) and swimming/boating, yet lots of snow for Christmas. :)

Now, a bustling nightlife, a diverse population...those things we don't have. You can get to them fairly easily, but it's not a daily thing.

I have friends who live in the city in apartments much smaller and more expensive than my house. They make more money but it doesn't go as far, yet it's worth it to them for the culture, etc.

It's all what you're looking for personally. So if you really want to move I'd look at the top things that are important to you and find a country that's strong in those areas. Because nowhere is absolutely perfect. :)

[glastocat]

No where is perfect, and different people like different things, and in my case I seem to like different things at different stages of life. After a hugely dull childhood and uni in a very lovely but troubled country (Ni) I couldn't wait to get out! I spent my 20s and early 30s having a blast in London, but when I had a baby wanted something different so moved to Cork. We've been here for ten years and it has been lovely, especially being on the same island as family (albeit 300 miles away from mine!). But on Wednesday we are off again, to Australia this time! We are lucky to have permanent residency, and are really looking forward to leaving behind the terrible economy here, and of course the weather. I have never been homesick in my life, I wouldn't even know where to be homesick for! I have never been a homebody, there is a big beautiful world out there and I want to experience it to the full. We are already joking that we fancy Italy when we retire!

[littlecrystal]

I am not from the England, but have been settled here for the last decade. I love it. I feel like I was born here. I even love the weather, especially those cloudy chilly days ? no joke here. I would burn alive in a sandy sunny beach.

I considered moving to the U.S.A., Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Kenya, Singapore for work and life but in the end decided that I will not find better anywhere else.

I am not sure what everyone else is complaining about?

[dreamingbohemian]

stubborn Actually they've changed the self-employment rules in France -- now you register as an auto-entrepreneur and you just pay a flat 23% on your actual earnings. So no taxes until you're earning.

[slug]

Country corruption index Looks like Denmark, Finland or NZ are your best options.

[Francagoestohollywood]

I have thought about it and I think that I would happily move:

• back to the UK (London)
  
• Amsterdam
  

-San Sebastian

• Copenhagen
  

Please note that all these places share a kind of weather that would make me pretty miserable . Still. They are nice.

[stubbornstains]

dreaming

(off to look for passport)

Auto-entrepreneur....it sounds so much sexier than self-employed!

[dreamingbohemian]

stubborn I know, it sounds faintly erotic doesn't it??? Ah the French

PM me if you decide to go ahead with it, although they have massively streamlined the process it's still a lot of paperwork, although now you can do everything online instead of traipsing around various offices