By Cristiane Namiuti
The Cato Institute just published its annual Misery Index ranking of nations. Professor Steve H. Hanke of Johns Hopkins Universitycalculated the indexesbased on data from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The Misery Index calculation follows a simple formula:
Misery Index = (unemployment + inflation + bank lending rates) – GDP’s percentage change.
The highest indexes are associated with the most miserable nations.
According to Hanke’s Misery Index for 2015, Venezuela continues to occupy the first place as the most miserable nation for the third consecutive year.And Venezuela’s situation in 2015 was much worse than 2014: the country’s Misery Index went from 106 in 2014 to 214 in 2015, increasing more than 100%.
Ukraine rose two positions, going from fourth place in 2014 to second in 2015, with a misery index of 82.
Brazilearned a Misery Index of 67, appearing as the third most miserable nation in the world1 (after Venezuela and Ukraine) and second in the Americas2 (after Venezuela). The Brazilian economy has been deteriorating over the last few years. The country is struggling with a high level of government debt, high inflation and very high interest rates. Most of these aspects directly affect the country’s Misery Index.
Bender, Jeremy.“Most Miserable Countries in the World”
BusinessInsider.com Jan. 2015.
<http://www.businessinsider.com/misery-index-cato-institute-2016-1>
2Hanke, Steve H.“Economic Headwinds: Big Players, Regime Uncertainty and the Misery Index”
Cato Institute, Feb. 2016.
<http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/economic-headwinds-big-players-regime-uncertainty- misery-index>
Cato Institute’s Misery Index scores for 2015 were only calculated for nations with up-to-date data at the EIU. Some countries, like for example Syria, were not included because they did not have current data available.
You can check the latest Misery Index rankings here:
Most Miserable Countries in the World
http://www.businessinsider.com/misery-index-cato-institute-2016-1
Misery Index Scores per Region
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/economic-headwinds-big-players-regime-uncertainty-misery-index
The Cato Institute just published its annual Misery Index ranking of nations. Professor Steve H. Hanke of Johns Hopkins Universitycalculated the indexesbased on data from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The Misery Index calculation follows a simple formula:
Misery Index = (unemployment + inflation + bank lending rates) – GDP’s percentage change.
The highest indexes are associated with the most miserable nations.
According to Hanke’s Misery Index for 2015, Venezuela continues to occupy the first place as the most miserable nation for the third consecutive year.And Venezuela’s situation in 2015 was much worse than 2014: the country’s Misery Index went from 106 in 2014 to 214 in 2015, increasing more than 100%.
Ukraine rose two positions, going from fourth place in 2014 to second in 2015, with a misery index of 82.
Brazilearned a Misery Index of 67, appearing as the third most miserable nation in the world1 (after Venezuela and Ukraine) and second in the Americas2 (after Venezuela). The Brazilian economy has been deteriorating over the last few years. The country is struggling with a high level of government debt, high inflation and very high interest rates. Most of these aspects directly affect the country’s Misery Index.
Bender, Jeremy.“Most Miserable Countries in the World”
BusinessInsider.com Jan. 2015.
<http://www.businessinsider.com/misery-index-cato-institute-2016-1>
2Hanke, Steve H.“Economic Headwinds: Big Players, Regime Uncertainty and the Misery Index”
Cato Institute, Feb. 2016.
<http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/economic-headwinds-big-players-regime-uncertainty- misery-index>
Cato Institute’s Misery Index scores for 2015 were only calculated for nations with up-to-date data at the EIU. Some countries, like for example Syria, were not included because they did not have current data available.
You can check the latest Misery Index rankings here:
Most Miserable Countries in the World
http://www.businessinsider.com/misery-index-cato-institute-2016-1
Misery Index Scores per Region
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/economic-headwinds-big-players-regime-uncertainty-misery-index
