The Economy

Top 10 Best Countries

Jan. 20, 2016

The rankings evaluate 60 nations across 24 lists on a wide range of criteria, from sustainability to economic influence. Created to capture how nations are perceived on a global scale, the rankings are the centerpiece of a new web portal called “Best Countries,” launched on Jan. 20 at the World Economic Forum.

Adrienne Selko

“Globalization has made the world a competitive place for business, influence and the quality of life,” according to Mortimer B. Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of U.S. News and World Report. The magazine along with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania decided that there was a need to rank countries.

“How a nation is perceived outside its borders is critical to its success," said Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP. WPP's BAV Consulting business was also a partner in the study. "Smart, thoughtful and responsible administrations pay attention to image and reputation, because a better image contributes towards more foreign direct investment, more tourism and a ‘made-in’ or ‘created-in’ premium."

Attributes were grouped into nine sub-rankings that rolled into the Best Countries ranking:

Adventure -- Friendly, fun, pleasant climate, scenic

Citizenship --Cares about human rights, cares about the environment, gender equality, progressive, religious freedom, respects property rights, trustworthy, well-distributed political power

Cultural Influence --Culturally significant in terms of entertainment, fashionable, happy, has an influential culture, modern, prestigious, trendy

Entrepreneurship -- Connected to the rest of the world, educated population, entrepreneurial, innovative, provides easy access to capital, skilled labor force, technological expertise, transparent business practices, well-developed infrastructure, well-developed legal framework

Heritage -- Culturally accessible, has a rich history, has great food, many cultural attractions

Movers --Different, distinctive, dynamic, unique

Open for Business --Bureaucratic, cheap manufacturing costs, corrupt, favorable tax environment, transparent government practices

Power -- A leader, economically influential, politically influential, strong international alliances, strong military

Quality of Life -- A good job market, affordable, economically stable, family friendly, income equality, politically stable, safe, well-developed public education system, well-developed public health system

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.