Measuring the health of a nation

My French friends seem to be complaining more and more about François Hollande's inept leadership and fear that their country is going down the drain. While pessimism is almost a national pastime in my home-country, there are numbers that might confirm my countrymen and women worst fears.

Based on a study by the World Bank which unfortunately go only through year 2010, public spending varies vastly per country. The table shows these public expenses as a percentage of GDP that represent cash payments for operating government activities in providing goods and services.

Such expenses include wages and salaries of public employees, interest and subsidies, grants, social benefits, and other expenses such as rent and dividends. These are compiled by the International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.

I'll let you pour through this table and draw your own conclusions...