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."