Jeff Springer
With a 32% marginal tax rate imposed on average income workers, the UK still qualifies as a relatively low-taxed nation, but only amidst the rest of highly-taxed Western Europe. With a GDP per capita of $36,358 (19th on the IMF’s ranking), Great Britain stands as the sixth largest economy in the world by this measure. The United Kingdom provides universal healthcare to its citizens, as do most industrialized nations in Europe, and Poverty.org reports that roughly 21% live below 40% of the country’s median income. The country is also a major financial hub in the world economy, with London housing various important stock exchanges and investment banks. Unemployment is manageable at 7.8%, as of the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with double-digit employment in many similarly situated nations. All told, London continues to offer one of the higher standards of living in the world, owing in part to its relatively low taxes and focus on economic growth.
