Consider the good fortune of a country far richer than the UK. Its economy is more than £300bn bigger and its workers are almost a quarter more productive than Britain’s, enjoying wages that are typically £7,000 higher. Households are flush enough to spend thousands more on consumption, just as public services are far better resourced. This economy still faces deep challenges — including entrenched inequality, regional imbalances and climate change — but prosperity generally makes life just that bit easier.
想想一個比英國富裕得多的國家的好運吧。經濟規模高出逾3000億英鎊,生產率比英國高出近四分之一,工資通常高出7000英鎊。家庭富足,可以在消費上多花幾千英鎊,同時公共服務的資源也要充足得多。這個經濟體仍然面臨著巨大的挑戰——包括根深蒂固的不平等、地區發展失衡和氣候變化——但繁榮通常讓日子變得好過一點。