Switzerland retains 2nd place in the
WEF Global Competitiveness Report
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Like last year, Switzerland has been ranked second in the World Economic Forum's Global
Competitiveness Report.
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In the report for 2008-2009, Switzerland has out-competed its closest rivaling European economies
from Denmark (3), Sweden (4), Finland (6), Germany (7), and the Netherlands (8) as runner-ups, as
well as Singapore (5), Japan (9) and Canada (10) on a global level. Only the United States managed
to outperform Switzerland's competitiveness.
The WEF Report states: «Switzerland's economy is ranked second for its business sophistication and
third for its innovation capacity». It goes on to commend its «high spending on research and
development (R&D), particularly impressive given the country's small size», and that its «scientific
research institutions are among the world's best». The report further has much praise for «the strong
collaboration between the academic and business sectors, basic research that is translated into
marketable products and processes», the country’s «strong intellectual property protection», and
«the high rate of patenting in the country», for which Switzerland ranks 6th worldwide on a per capita
basis.
In addition, Switzerland's public institutions are rated among the most effective and
transparent in the world (4th), ensuring a level playing field and enhancing business confidence.
The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report aims at a comprehensive evaluation of a
national economy's competitiveness in an increasingly complex global business context. This year's
issue mirrors the answers from over 12,000 business leaders in 134 economies worldwide in the WEF
Executive Opinion Survey as well as publicly available data. The survey is designed to capture a
broad range of factors affecting an economy's business climate that are critical determinants of
sustained economic growth.
Global Competitiveness Index
Top 10 World Rankings
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Country |
Rank |
Score |
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USA |
1 |
5.74 |
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Switzerland |
2 |
5.61 |
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Denmark |
3 |
5.58 |
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Sweden |
4 |
5.53 |
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Singapore |
5 |
5.53 |
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Finland |
6 |
5.50 |
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Germany |
7 |
5.46 |
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Netherlands |
8 |
5.41 |
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Japan |
9 |
5.38 |
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Canada |
10 |
5.37 |
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Text – Greater
Zurich Area
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