Posted on 09/09/2010 2:22:45 PM PDT by WesternCulture
Sweden has overtaken the United States and Singapore in a new ranking of the world’s most competitive economies published by the World Economic Forum.
Sweden best in EU for competition: ranking (9 May 10) Many foreign-born in Sweden lack work: study (26 Jan 10) Employers concerned by union pay raise demands (2 Nov 09) Sweden climbed two spots in the Geneva-based organisation’s annual Global Competitiveness Report, landing in second place behind Switzerland, which topped the rankings for the second year in a row.
The United States, which held the number two spot last year, moved down to the fourth position, while Singapore retained its lock on third place.
Sweden’s Nordic neighbours all placed high in the survey, with Finland (7th) and Denmark (9th) among the top 10, and with Norway at 14th.
According to Stefan Fölster, chief economist at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv), a strong economy, sound public finances and high growth are all contributing factors to Sweden’s high ranking.
He cautioned, however, that the rankings say little about what lies ahead.
“Unfortunately, there is no connection at all between these rankings and future growth. These lists focus quite a bit on macroeconomic factors, but very little on conditions for small business, for example,” Fölster told the TT news agency.
Sweden was the number one country in a number of the survey’s ranking factors, including intellectual property protection, ethical behaviour of firms, availability of advanced technologies, and private sector R&D spending.
However, the report pointed singled out restrictive labour regulations, high tax rates, and tax regulations as factors which remain problematic for doing business in Sweden.
The Global Competitiveness Report’s competitiveness ranking is based on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which takes into account 12 pillars of competitiveness.
The pillars include institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation.
According to the World Economic Forum, the survey, which is based on responses from 13,500 business leaders in 139 countries, is designed to capture a broad range of factors affecting an economy’s business climate.
Finland and Sweden never surrendered to Stalinist or Nazi hegemony.
Some accuse us of siding with the Nazis. Personally, I don't mind. Regardless of my opinions, this accusation holds some truth. But We vwere never Nazis.
After WWII, Sweden inspired a lot of other nations (most of them European) into adopting the same generous social policies without possessing the funding for it.
In the 1970's, it became all too evident something was wrong with this idea.
A lot of economical power was shifted to the OPEC countries and nations like Saudi Arabia has a big say in international affairs.
Since that change of balance, Sweden has got rid of many useless goverment agencies and is cutting taxes.
Sweden is free from Saudi Arabi, the UN and the ECB.
Because it knows how to do business.
Perhaps that knowledge is key to freedom of today?
“Sweden passes US in competitiveness survey”
Oh yeah? Put ‘em up, Sweden!
A lot of countries will be passing us as long as the usurper is in the White House.
Some of the reasons the US has fallen to 4th place ( we were I think #2 not too long ago ), are these pesky criteria -—
* SOUNDNESS OF BANKS ( The USA ranks at a pathetic #111 of 139, below such countries as Lebanon, Turkey, Honduras, Mexico, Ghana, Ugana, Morocco, Bolivia and even Rwanda ). Read page 460 of the report.
* TOTAL TAX RATE ( The USA ranks a measley #89 out of 139. Below our European rivals like UK, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg and even Germany. Heck, we’re now ranked below Canada ). Read page 432 of the report. This should alarm us because with the Bush tax cuts expiring next year, we are SURE to even rank lower in this category.
* BUSINESS COSTS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE, the USA ranks at a pitiful #84 out of 139.
Syria, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Tunisia and Rwanda rank as the top 6 on this list. Go Figure.
TOTAL TAX RATE is defined as a combination of profit tax (% of profits), labor tax and contributions (% of profits) and other taxes (% of profits).
SOUNDNESS OF BANKS asseses the need for government bailouts in order to prevent insolvency.
If it were not for the pitiful showing we have in these categories, we would not have dropped to #4.
- “Tiny” Stockholm is today what Silicon Valley was in the 1970s.
2010, Silicon Valley can't compete with what the Stockholm-Helsinki area is up to.
What is actually being constructed and invented in California?
However, without companies like IBM and Microsoft, Stockholm perhaps never would have got off to a start.
The World is something we construct together.
Sweden is the only nation that has crushed both Germany (of that time - the 17th century) and Russia in wars.
We wish peace (at reasonable terms) and cooperation with other nations, but we also are convinced “small nations” have a say. If you don't agree this will come to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1UPG7XwhWw
Today, the bravest sons and daughters of our nation die fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.
Well put.
Thanks for posting,
WesternCulture
Cripes, is it necessary to put a sarcasm tag on EVERYTHING?
Let’s see…..Ethnicity and Race:
Sweden:
• White: 95%,
• Other: 5%
U.S.
• White: 75%
• Black: 13%
• Hispanic: 12.5%
All those copies of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo pushed Sweden over the top.
This has got to be job one if we are ever going to turn things around in the US.
Whole federal departments need to be either eliminated or handed off to the states. I'll judge any candidate by his (or her) willingness to not merely cut taxes, but reduce the size and scope of the federal government.
“All those copies of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo pushed Sweden over the top.”
too true.
I wish Sweden were more socially conservative, like Norway; it’s kind of like the difference between Minnesota and the Dakotas. Still, go Vikings!
Also, How much defense burden does Sweden carry ?
Do they have an illegal immigration problem ?
They sure didn't carry any during WWII.
- Sweden could’ve mobilized 1, 000, 000 men around 1980.
Now, you're not that cocky!
...and what is a ‘hispanic’?
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