Global Competetiveness Report

Country Rankings
Sustainable Innovation & Competitiveness
The measurements listed on the previous
page have been the cornerstones of
successful development in countries in Asia.
Unfortunately, development strategies are
too often driven by economic theories and
ideology instead of pragmatism (a rationally
incomprehensible phenomena that can
currently be observed in European politician’s
attempt to solving the financial crises). Most
of the measurements listed on the previous
page are contradicting to what dominant
players such as the World Bank and the IMF
have been demanding from borrowing
countries. Considering that development in
most of the debtor countries (particularly
Africa) has stalled over the last 50 years, it is
probably fair to state that World Bank/IMF’s
theory-based free market approach has not
been particular helpful. China has recently
entered the scene as an alternative
development partner. While China is most
likely pursuing its own interests (access to
natural resources) its is understandable that
developing countries are co-operating with
China in return for infrastructure development
that do not come with ideological strings
attached.
Interestingly, decline is equally reflected as
progress in this ranking . Analysing the
performance of the USA (formerly considered
powerful not only in size but also in terms of
innovation & competitiveness), shows that the
country is ranked low in relation to its global
status in most innovation and competitiveness
indicators. What is even more worrying from a
USA perspective is that most indicators have
shown negative (declining) trends over
recent years. On a positive note, the USA
stays amongst the top ten countries in terms
of R&D investment and patent applications,
indicating that all is not yet lost.
Sustainable Innovation
Country Rank Score
Senegal 133 28.3
Kenya 134 28.1
Niger 135 28.0
Liberia 136 27.8
Bolivia 137 27.6
Uganda 138 27.2
Gambia 139 27.1
Mauritania 140 27.0
Sudan 141 26.8
Maldives 142 26.7
Cameroon 143 26.6
Papua New Guinea 144 26.4
Benin 145 26.3
Guatemala 146 26.3
Zimbabwe 147 25.8
Mali 148 25.3
Sierra Leone 149 25.1
Democratic Republic of Congo 150 25.0
Trinidad and Tobago 151 24.7
Malawi 152 24.5
Mozambique 153 24.4
Central African Republic 154 24.4
Fiji 155 24.3
West Bank and Gaza 156 24.1
Djibouti 157 24.1
South Sudan 158 23.5
Cote d'Ivoire 159 23.5
Lesotho 160 23.3
Honduras 161 22.9
Chad 162 22.4
Eritrea 163 22.4
Guinea-Bissau 164 22.3
Togo 165 22.1
Burundi 166 22.0
Bangladesh 167 21.8
Madagascar 168 21.7
Burkina Faso 169 21.4
Somalia 170 21.3
Comoros 171 21.2
Haiti 172 20.8
Guinea 173 20.1
Nicaragua 174 18.4
Yemen 175 15.2
Iraq 176 14.5
The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index
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