Estonia And The Department Of Meaningless Statistics

[Thelema]

the president's wife in Estonia gets 28,000+ euros every year for dresses, shoes and jewellery, while in Finland she gets 0 euros.[/FONT][/COLOR]

In Soviet Russia, president's wife gets this money in an hour

[Thelema]

Estonia is a great example of a successful Türanic nation!

On the apri you're Nordid, but in real life - Turanid

[Smaug]

On the apri you're Nordid, but in real life - Turanid

My heart is with the Steppe

[Aunt Hilda]

In Soviet Russia, president's wife gets this money in an hour

is that something to be proud of?

[Mans not hot]

Good for Estonia.

[Thelema]

My heart is with the Steppe

Our ideology is Pan-Turkism, our king is Ataturk, our weapon is Islam. Heil Turan!

[Thelema]

is that something to be proud of?

No, that's why I put facepalm.

[Aunt Hilda]

Good for Estonia.

a greek tragedy waiting to happen.

[Smaug]

a greek tragedy waiting to happen.

Very intelligent joke my darling.

[Pure ja]

about Estonia's ''success'' story.

also here's a short list of facts

A few facts:
- Estonia's population has been in sharp decline since its independence in 1991;

That is a common trait of all post-soviet European countries. In Estonia in particular the sharp decline was due to many leaving soviet military and their families and soviet colonists in general (good riddance). The second source, a sharp birth rate decline right after 1991, was due to the hectic switchover from the soviet to the capitalist way of life - something that was largely inevitable. The third reason has been increasing emigration, esp since joining EU and the Schengen Area - again, largely inevitable, Finland has gone through a similar period, the only alternative would be Belarus.

What you are missing is that the number of native estonians in Estonia has only varied about 15% during the last 120 years or so - estonians in Estonia have been one of the most stable population in the world. Has been.

- Estonians' life expectancy is lower than the average in Europe;

Life expectancy in Estonia stalled during 1940-1992 and then started a quick rise towards western standards. There is still a lot of catch up to do.

- the death rate from alcohol-related illnesses is the highest in Europe;

Yes, that is a problem, although "the highest" is debatable. Among the highest is more correct.

Estonia's suicide rate is the fourth highest in Europe and well above the EU average (source: Eurostat);

Has been declining since 1992.

- the doctors' and nurses' union complains publicly that there are hardly any medical staff left in Estonia;

But what about in Zimbabwe?
The education of doctors in Estonia is evidently too high for such a low-income country. Something has to give.
And since it would be difficult to raise Estonia's economy to the western level at once, one would "logically" argue that one has to lower the education of doctors.

- 10% of Estonians (120,000) have moved to Finland because of higher salaries and a better quality of life;

Any suggestions to improve the matters? Would you believe it was different even if Estonia became part of Finland?

- half more moved out of the country in 2012 than back in (10,000 out vs 5000 in);

The joys of being a small country opening up.

- 29,000 children live in absolute poverty or near poverty (source: stat.ee);

Not by African standards.

- an MP's minimum salary is 4x the national average, while in Finland it is 2x the national average;
- the president's wife in Estonia gets 28,000+ euros every year for dresses, shoes and jewellery, while in Finland she gets 0 euros.

That is a problem.
Do you have a viable solution?