My point was that labour market conditions have changed dramatically in the past few months, and a "free market" negotiated pay rise might now be actually lower than the socially negotiated one.  Hence my reference to the relatively high Irish minimum wage (c. €9/hr.)

I would have thought what was interesting about the HDI list was that it was precisely those countries with a relatively strong "social market", state economic planning,  and a consensual approach to social conflict resolution that have done particularly well - with the possible exception of Australia which has now also moved in that direction.  The U.S. with much more of a free market bias under the Republicans has actually moved down the list.

It seems that - contrary to some ideologists - free market and human development are not quite the same thing!

Index of Frank's Diaries