{"id":26321,"date":"2013-02-02T00:52:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-01T23:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/feeds.feedblitz.com\/~\/37919997\/0\/alternet~America-Is-Far-from"},"modified":"2013-02-02T00:52:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-01T23:52:00","slug":"america-is-far-from-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/america-is-far-from-1\/","title":{"rendered":"America Is Far from #1"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest Global Competitiveness Report comparing 144 countries shows the sorry state of our country’s development.<\/p>\n

\n

February 1, 2013<\/span><\/em> \u00a0| \u00a0<\/p>\n

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Like this article?<\/p>\n

Join our email list:<\/p>\n

Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013,\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/span> \u00a0by the World Economic Forum, is t<\/span> he latest annual ranking of 144 countries, on a wide range of factors related to global economic competitiveness<\/span> .<\/p>\n

On each of their many rankings, #1 represents the best nation, and #144 represents the worst nation.<\/p>\n

Gross Domestic Product is the only factor where the U.S. ranks as #1, which we do both on “GDP\u201d and on \u201cGDP as a Share of World GDP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Health Care has the U.S. ranking #34 on \u201cLife Expectancy,\u201d and #41 on \u201cInfant Mortality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Education in the U.S. is also mediocre. On \u201cQuality of Primary Education,\u201d we are #38. On \u201cPrimary Education Enrollment Rate,\u201d we are #58. On \u201cQuality of the Educational System,\u201d we are #28. On \u201cQuality of Math and Science Education,\u201d we are #47. On \u201cQuality of Scientific Research Institutions,\u201d we are #6. On \u201cPCT [Patent Cooperation Treaty] Patent Applications [per-capita],\u201d we are #12. On \u201cFirm-Level Technology Absorption\u201d (which is an indicator of business-acceptance of inventions), we are #14.<\/p>\n

Trust is likewise only moderately high in the U.S. We rank #10 on \u201cWillingness to Delegate Authority,\u201d #42 on \u201cCooperation in Labor-Management Relations,\u201d and #18 in \u201cDegree of Customer Orientation\u201d of firms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corruption is apparently a rather pervasive problem in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

On \u201cDiversion of Public Funds [due to corruption],\u201d the U.S. ranks #34.<\/span> On \u201cPublic Trust in Politicians,\u201d we are #54. On \u201cIrregular Payments and Bribes,\u201d we are #42. On \u201cJudicial Independence,\u201d we are #38. On \u201cFavoritism in Decisions of Government Officials\u201d (otherwise known as governmental cronyism), we are #59.<\/span><\/p>\n

On \u201cOrganized Crime,\u201d we are #87. On \u201cEthical Behavior of Firms,\u201d we are #29. On \u201cReliability of Police Services,\u201d we are #30. On \u201cTransparency of Governmental Policymaking,\u201d we are #56. On \u201cEfficiency of Legal Framework in Challenging Regulations,\u201d we are #37. On \u201cEfficiency of Legal Framework in Settling Disputes,\u201d we are #35. On \u201cBurden of Government Regulation,\u201d we are #76. On \u201cWastefulness of Government Spending,\u201d we are also #76. On \u201cProperty Rights\u201d protection (the basic law-and-order measure), we are #42.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investors find somewhat shaky ground in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

On \u201cStrength of Investor Protection,\u201d we are #5. On \u201cProtection of Minority Shareholders\u2019 Interests,\u201d we are #33. On \u201cEfficacy of Corporate Boards,\u201d we are #23. On \u201cReliance on Professional Management,\u201d we are #19. On \u201cStrength of Auditing and Reporting Standards,\u201d we are #37. On \u201cVenture Capital Availability,\u201d we are #10. On \u201cIntellectual Property Protection,\u201d we are #29. On \u201cSoundness of Banks,\u201d we are #80. On \u201cRegulation of Securities Exchanges,\u201d we are #39. On \u201cCountry Credit Rating,\u201d we are #11. On \u201cGovernment Debt [as a % of GDP],\u201d we are #136. On \u201cEffectiveness of Anti-Monopoly Policy,\u201d we are #17. On \u201cExtent of Market Dominance,\u201d we are #9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology is moderately good here. The U.S. ranks #14 on \u201cAvailability of Latest Technologies,\u201d #24 on \u201cInternet Access in Schools,\u201d #20 on \u201cInternet Users [%],\u201d #33 on \u201cInternet Bandwidth [per user],\u201d and #8 on \u201cMobile Broadband Subscriptions [%].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Infrastructure is fairly good in the U.S. We rank #25 on \u201cQuality of Overall Infrastructure,\u201d #33 on \u201cQuality of Electricity Supply,\u201d #30 on \u201cQuality of Air Transport Infrastructure,\u201d #19 on \u201cQuality of Port Infrastructure,\u201d and #20 on \u201cQuality of Roads.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes also definitely don\u2019t qualify as being good in the U.S. We rank #69 on \u201cExtent and Effect of Taxation,\u201d in which the \u201cEffect\u201d that\u2019s considered is reducing the \u201cincentives to work or invest.\u201d We are #103 on \u201cTotal Tax Rate,\u201d #47 on \u201cNumber of Procedures Required to Start a Business\u201d (which is an indirect tax), and #50 on \u201cPrevalence of Trade Barriers\u201d (both tariff and non-tariff).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The latest Global Competitiveness Report comparing 144 countries shows the sorry state of our country’s development.<\/p>\n

\n

February 1, 2013<\/span><\/em>  |  <\/p>\n

\n
\n

Like this article?<\/p>\n

Join our email list:<\/p>\n

Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013,”<\/span><\/a><\/span>  by the World Economic Forum, is t<\/span> he latest annual ranking of 144 countries, on a wide range of factors related to global economic competitiveness<\/span> .<\/p>\n

On each of their many rankings, #1 represents the best nation, and #144 represents the worst nation.<\/p>\n

Gross Domestic Product is the only factor where the U.S. ranks as #1, which we do both on “GDP” and on “GDP as a Share of World GDP.”<\/p>\n

Health Care has the U.S. ranking #34 on “Life Expectancy,” and #41 on “Infant Mortality.”<\/p>\n

Education in the U.S. is also mediocre. On “Quality of Primary Education,” we are #38. On “Primary Education Enrollment Rate,” we are #58. On “Quality of the Educational System,” we are #28. On “Quality of Math and Science Education,” we are #47. On “Quality of Scientific Research Institutions,” we are #6. On “PCT [Patent Cooperation Treaty] Patent Applications [per-capita],” we are #12. On “Firm-Level Technology Absorption” (which is an indicator of business-acceptance of inventions), we are #14.<\/p>\n

Trust is likewise only moderately high in the U.S. We rank #10 on “Willingness to Delegate Authority,” #42 on “Cooperation in Labor-Management Relations,” and #18 in “Degree of Customer Orientation” of firms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corruption is apparently a rather pervasive problem in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

On “Diversion of Public Funds [due to corruption],” the U.S. ranks #34.<\/span> On “Public Trust in Politicians,” we are #54. On “Irregular Payments and Bribes,” we are #42. On “Judicial Independence,” we are #38. On “Favoritism in Decisions of Government Officials” (otherwise known as governmental cronyism), we are #59.<\/span><\/p>\n

On “Organized Crime,” we are #87. On “Ethical Behavior of Firms,” we are #29. On “Reliability of Police Services,” we are #30. On “Transparency of Governmental Policymaking,” we are #56. On “Efficiency of Legal Framework in Challenging Regulations,” we are #37. On “Efficiency of Legal Framework in Settling Disputes,” we are #35. On “Burden of Government Regulation,” we are #76. On “Wastefulness of Government Spending,” we are also #76. On “Property Rights” protection (the basic law-and-order measure), we are #42.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investors find somewhat shaky ground in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

On “Strength of Investor Protection,” we are #5. On “Protection of Minority Shareholders’ Interests,” we are #33. On “Efficacy of Corporate Boards,” we are #23. On “Reliance on Professional Management,” we are #19. On “Strength of Auditing and Reporting Standards,” we are #37. On “Venture Capital Availability,” we are #10. On “Intellectual Property Protection,” we are #29. On “Soundness of Banks,” we are #80. On “Regulation of Securities Exchanges,” we are #39. On “Country Credit Rating,” we are #11. On “Government Debt [as a % of GDP],” we are #136. On “Effectiveness of Anti-Monopoly Policy,” we are #17. On “Extent of Market Dominance,” we are #9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology is moderately good here. The U.S. ranks #14 on “Availability of Latest Technologies,” #24 on “Internet Access in Schools,” #20 on “Internet Users [%],” #33 on “Internet Bandwidth [per user],” and #8 on “Mobile Broadband Subscriptions [%].”<\/span><\/p>\n

Infrastructure is fairly good in the U.S. We rank #25 on “Quality of Overall Infrastructure,” #33 on “Quality of Electricity Supply,” #30 on “Quality of Air Transport Infrastructure,” #19 on “Quality of Port Infrastructure,” and #20 on “Quality of Roads.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Taxes also definitely don’t qualify as being good in the U.S. We rank #69 on “Extent and Effect of Taxation,” in which the “Effect” that’s considered is reducing the “incentives to work or invest.” We are #103 on “Total Tax Rate,” #47 on “Number of Procedures Required to Start a Business” (which is an indirect tax), and #50 on “Prevalence of Trade Barriers” (both tariff and non-tariff).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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