In order to compare the standard of living in Auckland and the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, TV3 followed two families shopping in November 2007. Similar goods went into the shopping trolley to get a fair comparison. However household costs are only one part of the standard of living, and a comparison of incomes is also important. In this case the male earner in both families was a builder, but the Gold Coast builder earned 50% more than the New Zealand builder. The programme illustrates how purchasing power parities (PPPs), a comparison of shopping power, are a more effective way to compare standards of living across countries than simply GDP per capita figures.
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