Philippines: #24 In Global Expat Views On Economics, Experience and Family

Whereas the US News & World Report for Best Countries ranked the Philippines #43 in 2017 to slide down to #49 in 2018 among 80 countries, yet another London-based country comparison study ranks the Philippines as #24 among 46 countries with expatriates.

Broadening perspectives explores the realities of the expat world through three key themes – economics, experience and family. The global survey used 27 questions and was conducted online by YouGov in March and April 2017. Rated by expats themselves, it represents the views of 27,587 expats in 159 countries and territories. Based on responses to the survey, a minimum sample of 100 expat respondents, including at least 30 expat parents, was required for a country to be included in the resulting country league tables. For year 2017, 46 of 159 countries qualified, and this is how the Philippines ranked:

1. #24 in Expat Explorer Overall (up 13 places from 37th in 2016 to 24th in 2017) -- This summarises expats’ overall view of the country they live in. The Expat Explorer overall score is the average of the Economics, Experience and Family scores covering 27 key criteria.

2. #35 in Economics League Table -- This summarises expats’ views on 9 questions about a country’s economy and its effect on expats, and covers:

• Personal finances — earning prospects, level of disposable income, level of saving
• The local economy — confidence in the local economy, view on political stability, view on how easy it is to start a business
• Working life — prospects for career progression, work/life balance, job security​

3. #27 in Experience LeagueTable – This summarises expats’ views on 9 questions about the lifestyle they have in their adopted country and covers:

• Lifestyle — the local culture, expats’ physical health, quality of life
• The people around them —how safe expats feel, ease of integrating with the local people, ease of forming friendships
• The ease of setting up — organising finances, organising healthcare, finding accommodation
​

4. #7 in Family League Table – This summarises expats’ views on 9 questions about family life in their adopted country and covers:

• Relationships — expats’ social life, whether they feel close to their partner, how welcoming the country is from a diversity point of view
• Education and childcare — quality of childcare, quality of education, overall cost of raising children
• Impact of raising children abroad — their health and wellbeing, the ease of making friends, overall quality of life​

“Broadening perspectives” is the 10th in the Expat Explorer Series, an independent consumer research study into global expat views annually commissioned by HSBC Holdings plc.

Reproduced with permission from Expat Explorer Broadening perspectives, published in 2017 by HSBC Holdings plc.

 

Typically these things are targeted towards providing employers modifiers for how much to pay employees they send abroad. In this case, the definition of expat probably doesn't include retirees or alcoholic dog kickers. A typical working expat's wages aren't tied to the economy they are working in.

Also keep in mind that of 159 countries in which expats were polled, only 46 made the cut for receiving enough data. Ranking #35 is bottom feeding.

I'm guessing the expats in this survey were mostly white, considering that the Philippines is among the most racist countries in the world.

These things have limited usefulness. Singapore is great. The U.S. and U.K. are expensive and you get worked to the bone. Countries in S.E. Asia are great if you are young and single. Anything else at the bottom is for collecting a big paycheck and GTFO ASAP. That's about all you can take away from this.

Putting together questions, running a survey and interpreting results without major errors and bias is really difficult. I trust these things about as much as I trust my horoscope.