The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2019

Methodology
Table of
Contents
Indictors used cover health performance indicators, birth statistics, income
differences, equal opportunities (gender, economic), freedom of press, human
rights considerations, the level of crime against both possession and humans,
and perceived levels of well-being and happiness.
Intellectual Capital
The backbone of sustained economic success is the ability to continuously
improve and innovate on all levels and throughout all institutions (not limited to
the private sector). Sustaining competitiveness also requires a long-term view
beyond momentary political interests or opinions, and long-term investments in
crucial areas (education, infrastructure). Economies that are being deprived
from investments sooner or later face decline, as some nations of the formerly
“leading” West are currently learning the hard way. Indicators used for the
innovation capability sub-index cover education levels, R&D performance
indicators, infrastructure investment levels, employment indexes, and the
balance of the agricultural-industrial-service sectors.
Intellectual Capital Indicators
Primary education completion
Primary student repetitions
Secondary education enrolment
Tertiary education enrolment
Spending on education (% of state expenditure)
Pupil-teacher ratio
Pupil gender ratio
School dropouts secondary
Education spending (% of GDP)
Spending per student (% of per capita GDP)
Patent applications per 1 million people
Patent applications (per GDP)
New business registrations per 1 million people
Trademark applications
R&D FTEs per million people
R&D spending
High tech exports
38