Britain acts richer than it is

britain's habits and virtues were built for a level of prosperity it no longer enjoys. the country acts richer than it actually is, according to a new assessment. its institutions, consumer expectations, and public services still assume a wealth that the economy can't reliably deliver. the gap between britain's self-image and its real economic output has widened. gdp per capita has stagnated, while the cost of maintaining a "rich country" standard — from the nhs to pension commitments — keeps rising. the result is a nation that spends like a wealthy one but earns like a middling one, with no clear plan to close the gap.