Britain poorer than Mississippi

[BritishMississippi]

Our GDP per capita has now dipped to the level of America’s poorest state. It’s not dipped below due solely to London. We’ve been on a spiral for the last twenty years that means our children are facing not being able to find jobs and even the jobs they can find have miserable wages attached to them. AIBU that we need to engage quite seriously with how to bring the country out of this spiral in a meaningful way?

I would love to live in Mississippi. Sitting under a parasol in my garden next to the river, sipping a mint julip while paddle steamers drift by.

Because everyone was addicted to benefits by that stage so if they had tried to do anything they would have been called the Nasty Party because so many of the people in the cabinet were "posh".

GDP per capita is not a good way of comparing our own performance to another country but it is good at comparing our business activity now to x years ago. If it peaked in 2009 then by how much are we worse off?
That is to do with us, British Politicians, British managers, British Financial services, British Trade Unions and us the workers.
My opinion is that our Managers are very low grade, poorly educated and not trained to manage.
British Trade Unions are awful: Teachers Unions looking to get Head Teachers to resign because the unions refuse to cooperate. Railway Unions stopping the introduction of new trains insisting that the company employs another person just to open and close doors.

Finance Industry takes short term views only.

Indeed... I would not want to live in mississipi or anywhere else in the USA for that matter.. Canada is a much nicer place if you want to experience North America

Yes and Tony Blair allowed unlimited immigration from Eastern Europe so living standards declined even more.

The Newsweek article that explains it is linked on page 1 of this thread I believe.

This isn’t something that has happened in the last 2 years.. this is far longer so this response is lame.

Blair and Merkel. Disasterous.

Paddle steamers? You're going to need a time machine.

I’d rather be poor in the UK than America- at least we have the NHS, benefits system etc, as imperfect as they are.

That was a really good read, thanks for sharing OP!

The topic of UK being as poor as Mississippi isn't really the main gist of the article. It is the title and discussed in the first paragraph, but the article isn't really hung up on it.

I think the main topic is about country divided. London vs "not London", haves and have nots, those who were winners of various past policies and those who were left behind, and how that has shaped the country and its politics.

The decline in living standards is sobering read - the extent of child poverty is abysmal, and how is the average pay for junior doctors and civil servants just a little bit north of £35k, when minimum wage is £25k? At the same time 100s of Millions have been poured into cancelled infrastructure works and bat shelters and what not, and taxes are higher than ever. We've all been screwed right left and centre paying the money through taxation for all these failed projects whilst essential health care staff are paid a pittance.

It also highlights how lack of strong leadership (including moral) has left the country and its institutions vying only for their own (and their cronies) benefit, and in complete disarray. Nobody knows what the common goal is, there is no cohesion or teamwork, everyone is pulling to different directions. Reform may think (or do they?) that they're working for the benefit of Britain, but all they do is sow seeds of discontent and fuel hatred and violence. They also are just more of the same - playing party politics and keeping eyes on the price (power). They do not work for you, they work for themselves.

The article is a good read for anyone who isn't restricted by paywall (you can read it if you haven't read any other Atlantic articles this month). It does paint a bleak picture, but it just verbalises how I've felt about the UK economy for such a long time so, so well. Hits the nail in the head.

Thank goodness I have an Irish passport as well (sorry), may need it soon!

There are a lot of issues in the UK but...

• Education levels in terms of literacy are better in the UK than many of the US states. Ironically, Mississippi is doing very well in things like child literacy despite being the 2nd poorest state. Largely because they focus on proven stuff like phonics.
• Health outcomes and even dental health is better in the UK than Mississippi
• life expectancy is better
• The crime rate is lower in the UK including violent crime

The thing about privatised healthcare is it raises GDP because it adds additional economic activity. In fact the more expensive healthcare is the better the economy looks. But because people are paying for it out of their earnings, it costs each individual person more. So you also have to look at disposable income after paying for health insurance/healthcare compared to countries where this is free at point of access.or subsidised. There are all sorts of quirks to GDP that make it hard to compare. If I broke loads of windows and the building owner or state had to pay someone to fix them I would have stimulated the economy. But nothing of value would have been created.

You might as well leave now Pearly, why not eh!

Oh and the prison situation in America is a whole other world. Ironically, having a privatised expensive prison service with a large prisoner population also boosts GDP. But it isn't good.for ordinary people.

The NHS, benefits system etc are why we are poor.

I will definitely leave of Farage wins, but I'm still holding on hope that maybe Burnham can save us from the brink.

I have a dream...

The population increase of approx 20million in 30 years, with fewer people working and more people claiming / using services they don't pay for doesn't help

Seriously just go now, Burnham will make it so much worse.. don't put yourself through the pain

Oh you don't want someone staying who vouches for unity of the country? Interesting. Wonder what party you're voting...

And then there is the temperature and the high humidity... without aircon Mississipi would be unlivable for most

I feel like Brexit didn't help. And the inflation of house prices in the UK means normal people can't afford mortgages. The building that has been started by the Labour government will help us redress the balance. Hopefully. Xxx

Not sure what your post means tbh

Plus the lack of electric kettles. Terrible. Can't easily boil a kettle for a good cuppa.

Yet the answer from many here is that we should get tax more. 😠

Labour has been in power for only two years, the economy doesn’t work this way. It takes time to feel the effects of policies. Sorry but who was in power for 10+ years and caused brexit