By Paul Casciato
LONDON Feb 29 (Reuters) – Canada’s natural beauty,
multicultural society, health care service and security made it
the top place on the planet for UK expats, according to an
annual index released on Wednesday.
The NatWest International Personal Banking Quality of Life
Index also reported that despite a global economic malaise, more
than two thirds of UK expats had not seen a reduction in their
quality of life abroad and fewer planned to return home.
The fifth index by Britain’s Natwest bank revealed
most UK expats believe their decision to move abroad was right
and that more than half of them have not had to reduce their
spending significantly despite the economic backlash from a debt
crisis that has depressed the global economy for years.
NatWest head of International Personal Banking Dave Isley
said in a statement that the index showed expats had sailed
through the most troubled global economic period since the end
of World War Two.
“Our Quality of Life Index – which examines expats real life
perceptions and experiences and gauges their personal
assessments – shows the global financial crisis has failed to
dampen the spirits of expats who seem to have adopted the ‘keep
calm, carry on’ philosophy,” he said.
Expats living in China, UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore said
their financial position had ‘improved dramatically’ since
moving to the country. Those living in Australia, Canada and New
Zealand assessed their financial position as having ‘improved
significantly’.
Those living in Western Europe, South Africa and the United
States were less enthusiastic about the improvement in their
financial prospects and reported their financial position to
have ‘improved moderately’.
The index also reported that those Britons who escaped to
the sun in Spain, France and Portugal are counting the cost of
their moves as their disposable income is eroded and the cost of
living rises during a period of budget austerity ushered in by a
euro zone crisis that has hit market confidence in several
countries tied to the single European currency.
Continued…
