EU: In 2011, Bulgaria was the "poorest" member, Luxembourg the "richest"

[Foucaulf]

Surprised no one has commented that Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece have higher GDP per capitas than Estonia, the latest poster child for austerity or something. Maybe the point is too subtle.

[Foucaulf]

I'm surprised that you seem unaware of that being true before the crisis hit. There was this thing called the USSR that played a part. Maybe that is too subtle.

I meant those in the topic who were surprised at Ireland's GDP should have commented on the Estonia thing instead. I personally believe in the slightly less absurd hypothesis that Estonians tough out their wage freezes because of their going through the Soviets.

I made a chart comparing the GNI per capita of Ireland versus a bunch of others, by the way. Irish GNI growth also lagged behind GDP growth by around 1%.