Study rates Scotland worst performer

GLASGOW, Scotland, June 11 (UPI) -- If Ireland is the Celtic Tiger, Scotland may be the Gaelic Sloth, with a small-business group rating it as the worst-performing small country in western Europe.

John McLaren of the University of Glasgow prepared the annual Index of Wealth for the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland, The Scotsman reported. He compared Scotland to nine other countries, including Iceland, Ireland and Norway.

"The reason why Scotland is stuck at the bottom of the pile is largely due to our poor health and our low life expectancy," he said.

Life expectancy is 74.2 years for men and 79.3 for women, below the British average of 76.6 and 81 years.

McLaren said Scotland would still rank in the middle of the group of 10 if health was removed as a factor. He also examined education, economic growth and employment.