COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
Global organizations, take note: The world’s most competitive economies all thrive in four
categories, according to Swiss business school IMD: economic performance, government
efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure. Here’s what makes the very best different
from the rest—and each other.
THE LATEST
STATISTICS, SURVEYS
AND STUDIES
Leading the Pack
The most competitive economies in 2014 all ranked at or near the top of
IMD’s list in recent years.
USA
USA
Switzerland
Switzerland
Singapore
Sweden
Hong Kong
Percentage
2013 GDP (US$)
4 Factors Defined
For the 2014 edition of its annual World Competitiveness Yearbook, IMD sifted data and
surveyed business executives to rank each economy in four areas. Taking all four rankings
into account, researchers then determined overall rankings.
Economic Performance
Economic performance: growth,
international trade and investment,
employment, prices
Government efficiency: public
finance, fiscal policy, legislation
conducive to competitiveness
Business efficiency: productivity,
management practices and attitudes,
finance, profitability and innovation
Infrastructure: physical, technologi-
cal and scientific infrastructure; health;
environment; education
1
2
3
4
5
6
012345
16. 8 trillion
650.8 billion
297.9 billion
274 billion
557.9 billion
1.9%
2.8%
2.0%
4.1%
2.9%
1.5%
2.1%
3.6%
3.7%
2.8%
10,000
Number of additional
construction workers needed in
Hong Kong through 2018
2013 Growth
2014 Projected Growth
3% 3.6%
Global economic growth in 2013
Projected global growth in 2014
Ra
n
k
20
14
20
10
20
11
20
1
2
20
13
