Switzerland remains in top five for competitiveness despite fall
Switzerland has dropped from second to fifth place in an annual ranking of the world’s most competitive economies, whilst the United States have moved up three places to the top.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/jc
Español
es
Suiza cae, pero aún es uno de los 5 países más competitivos
Switzerland’s fall is due mainly to “a slowdown in exports, job growth and international investment”, says the Lausanne-based IMD business schoolExternal link, which compiles the 63-country ranking. There is also more perceived risk of research and development centres being delocalised, it adds.
External Content
Although Switzerland isn’t at the top in any of the four main categories – economic performance, infrastructure, government efficiency and business efficiency – it offers the best institutional framework for the economy, a strong financial system and high standards of healthcare.
When it comes to exports, however, Switzerland comes only mid-table – and 53rd for high prices.
The return of the US to the top ranking is due to its economic performance and infrastructure, says the IMD World Competitiveness Center.
The ranking has been carried out every year since 1989. In 2018, 63 countries were rated on a range of indicators, two-thirds related to employment and trade statistics and one-third to perceptions gathered in opinion surveys.
The top five ranked countries in 2018 are the US (1), Hong Kong (2), Singapore (3), Netherlands (4) and Switzerland (5).
The bottom five ranked countries are Venezuela (63), Mongolia (62), Croatia (61), Brazil (60) and Ukraine (59).
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Weaker Swiss franc bolsters central bank options
This content was published on
The franc has fallen to its cheapest level against the euro in three years. Investors are now watching the Swiss National Bank for its next move.
This content was published on
For the second year in a row, Switzerland was only outclassed by Hong Kong in the 2017 IMD World Competitiveness YearbookExternal link, released on Wednesday. The ranking of 63 nations is compiled by comparing relative strengths in 261 areas – from the economy to political stability, health, education and the environment. Switzerland gained strong marks…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.