IT seems that we are becoming obsessed about how we stand as a nation and a people in comparison to the rest of the world.
Two weeks ago an international survey ranked the Philippines the 90th in “The 2015 World Happiness Report.” Immediately that information became an important topic of discussion. “Why are we only 90th?” “What needs to be done to improve our ranking?”
And then we dig deeper into the topic noting that “Filipinos are third happiest in Asia.” Further, there must be something wrong with the current rankings since in 2015 on the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness, we were placed fifth globally—along with Singapore, Switzerland and Uruguay—on the “Happiness Index.” Unfortunately, we were outranked by Venezuela, which got the No. 3 spot. Maybe if we had 720-percent annual inflation, we might be happier too.
The government is on board with the surveys reminding us about our ranking in corruption, transparency, the quality of government web sites and anything else that elected leaders might even remotely take credit for.
However, there are some surveys that the administration does not want to highlight, such as 54 percent responding to a recent survey that the quality of their lives remained unchanged during the tenure of President Aquino. But, that is no matter. We have found a recent economic analysis and global survey that we all—including the government—can find useful.
Of 71 cities around the world from such diverse towns as Tel Aviv, Israel to Lima, Peru, the Philippines is one of the least expensive places on earth to have your hair cut for both men and women.
This is a price survey of a top-quality hair cut. The most expensive city for a man to have his hair done is Oslo, Norway, where the equivalent US dollar price is $77.72. The lowest-priced city for a man to have some personal grooming is Jakarta, Indonesia, at $4.50. But do not think you have to leave our own shores. In Manila the price is calculated at $5.40 or about P250. The survey is obviously not talking about a shop with a sign hanging in front that says Gupit.
Women in the Philippines are not left out either. Oslo, again, is the most expensive on the planet at $95.04, and again also Jakarta at $4.62. Manila is the second least expensive for women at $6.18 or about P300.
Interestingly, there does not seem to be any regional trends. The top 10 highest prices are found in Europe, the US and New Zealand. The lowest are in Asia, Africa and South America. But every region is part of top, middle and bottom price ranges. New York City is one of the most expensive and is three times higher than Miami, Florida. Women in Israel pay $55.92, but South Korean women are charged only $15.64.
Is there any economic opportunity here? Our ecotourism and medial tourism programs have not been a great success. How about “Haircut Tourism”?
Image credits: Jimbo Albano