Q1. Economists believe as unemployment rates are consistently higher in Canada and most Western European countries than in the United States, the United States has a lower natural unemployment rate. What might explain this difference?

Q2. In 2008, the United Nations ranked Canada fourth on the Human Development Index (HDI)a ranking of the "quality of life" in many countries. Yet in that year, Canada ranked only tenth in terms of real per capita GDP. Explain how the two rankings can be different. Which criteria do you prefer and why?