RP tops in expat survey on quality of life

RP tops in expat survey on quality of life

SINGAPORE (AFP): Despite its chronic economic and political problems, the Philippines offers the best overall quality of life for expatriates in Asia, according to a new survey.

Most countries in the region have made progress over the past year in improving the living environment for expatriates, the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said in its latest report.

"The Philippines may not be Asia's economic dynamo, but it does have a loyal following of expatriates who find living in the country to be a pleasant experience overall," it said.

The private think-tank surveyed more than 500 expatriates living in Asia, mostly Australians, Americans and Europeans.

Among the drawbacks of living in the Philippines were heavy traffic and poor security, but these were offset by top marks for expats' ability to interact with the local population, access to recreational activities, value-for-money housing and "excellent" nightlife.

On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the worst, the Philippines ranked 3.27, edging out Singapore at 3.28, and with Japan at 3.84.

"The government's strait-laced reputation has also given Singapore an image of being a less 'fun' place to live than many other places in Asia," the survey said.

But it added that expats appreciated the government's efforts to make the island-state more livable, giving high scores to housing, recreation, health care facilities and personal security.

The standard of living in Japan was rated as high but expensive, and the biggest gripe was the lack of recreational facilities.

However, its "vibrant" nightlife and fascinating culture was a major drawing point for expatriates.

Malaysia and Thailand were two of the 12 Asian countries surveyed where perceptions on the quality of life had dropped. Malaysia rated 5.00 in 2000, down from 4.08 in 1999, while Thailand scored 4.90 from 4.70.

Security had become a concern in Malaysia, where robberies and burglaries have become more common, it said.

The "Thai government may have been a lot more successful than the Philippine government in promoting economic development, but its success has come at a significant cost in terms of the quality of life, at least as perceived by expatriates living there," it said, noting the "deterioration in the physical environment."

At the bottom of the score table were South Korea with 6.27 and Vietnam at 6.32, although their ratings were higher from a year ago.

South Korea was marked down because of the language barrier and other cultural obstacles which made it difficult for expats to interact with the local population.

"It might be a first world economy, but it has second or even third world aspects," the report said, noting that health care standards were poor. Respondents were also critical of the quality of schooling and housing.

The survey suggested South Korea could look to Taiwan as an example of how to improve the environment for expatriates, citing its efforts to invest in better health care and education facilities.

"Taiwan today has an expatriate community that is quite loyal to the country and speaks highly of its attributes as a place to live," it said. Taiwan rated 4.49 in the survey.

Expats said the quality of living in China's major cities like Beijing and Shanghai was "average" and "substandard" in the secondary cities where infrastructure was lacking.

Living standards in Guangdong and Shenzhen were rated as "decent" due to its proximity to Hong Kong. China rated 5.36 and Hong Kong received a mark of 4.10.

Hong Kong's good score reflected the general improvement in the mood of the expat population as an economic recovery continued, but the smog that frequently hangs over the territory was a growing problem.

"The biggest complaint of expatriates (in Hong Kong) these days is pollution, which has gotten noticeably worse in recent years," PERC said.

In Indonesia, which scored 5.44, political and social instability "have seriously interfered" with expats' enjoyment of the country.

It said health care facilities were poor and personal security a much bigger concern than before former president Soeharto's dramatic ousting.

However, plus points were the high quality of housing and schools and easy access to resort islands like Bali.

India, with a score of 5.74, was still considered a "hardship post" by expatriates, who cited the quality of health care and limitations on leisure activities as the biggest drawbacks.

The country's rich culture, however, was a major attraction, along with the ease of interacting with its people, as English is widely spoken.

The positive reports on India indicated that foreigners were becoming more comfortable with the country as well as the other way around, and this "bodes well for further improvements in the years ahead."