The Netherlands has the 5th most competitive economy in the world, according to the latest edition of the World Economic Forum’s ranking of the most internationally competitive economies.
As in previous years, this year’s top 10 is dominated by countries in Northern and Western Europe. Switzerland tops the ranking for the fourth year in a row, while Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th, respectively. Singapore remains in 2nd position, while the United States (7th), Hong Kong (9th) and Japan (10th) complete the top 10.
The Netherlands continues to move up in the rankings. According to the World Economic Forum, the Netherlands' ongoing improvement is based on a continued strengthening of its innovative capacity as well as the relative efficiency and stability of its financial markets.
Overall, Dutch businesses are considered highly sophisticated (4th) and innovative (9th), and the country is rapidly and aggressively making use of new technologies to improve productivity (9th). Its educational system scores big (5th for health and primary education and 6th for higher education and training) and its efficient markets, in particular its goods market (6th), foster plenty of business activity.
Even though the Netherlands has registered fiscal deficits in the past few years (e.g. 5 percent of GDP in 2011), its macroeconomic environment is more stable than that many other advanced economies.
Furthermore, the quality of Dutch infrastructure is among the best in the world, with facilities for maritime, air, and railroad transport ranking 1st, 4th, and 9th, respectively.
Top 10
› Switzerland
› Singapore
› Finland
› Sweden
› The Netherlands
› Germany
› United States
› United Kingdom
› Hong Kong SAR
› Japan
For more information and statistics download:
› The Global Competitiveness Report 2012 - 2013