I have examined the World's Most Liveable Cities before, in 2016 and 2018, but now January Magazinepublished the results of The Best Countries analysis. The Best Countries project was part of US News’ Government Rankings initiative, measuring government performance at the state and international levels. Kim Castro, editor of US News explained that “by collaborating with leaders in data and academia, we were able to help thought leaders, business decision makers, policy makers and citizens understand how perceptions impact their country’s standing in the world."
The report and subsequent rankings were based on how people’s perceptions define countries in terms of qualitative characteristics, but which did they include? And why did the 2020 report focus on perceptions of only 73 nations? See the Best Countries full ranking here.
Overall results
The report and subsequent rankings were based on how people’s perceptions define countries in terms of qualitative characteristics, but which did they include? And why did the 2020 report focus on perceptions of only 73 nations? See the Best Countries full ranking here.
1. Switzerland
2. Canada
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. Australia
6. United Kingdom
7. United States
8. Sweden
9. Netherlands
Regarding Switzerland, the report emphasised that “Switzerland has low unemployment, a skilled labour force and one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world, according to the CIA World Factbook. The country’s strong economy was powered by low corporate tax rates, a highly-developed service sector led by financial services and a high-tech manufacturing industry.”
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So I checked Quality of Life. Beyond the essential ideas of broad access to food and housing, to quality education and health care and employment, this measure may also include intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.
For Quality of Life
2. Canada
3. Japan
4. Germany
5. Australia
6. United Kingdom
7. United States
8. Sweden
9. Netherlands
10. Norway
11. New Zealand
12. France
13. Denmark
14. Finland
11. New Zealand
12. France
13. Denmark
14. Finland
Regarding Switzerland, the report emphasised that “Switzerland has low unemployment, a skilled labour force and one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world, according to the CIA World Factbook. The country’s strong economy was powered by low corporate tax rates, a highly-developed service sector led by financial services and a high-tech manufacturing industry.”
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Travel Triangle
Key themes from the 2020 Best Countries report include:
Switzerland stayed on top overall. Canada moved up to #2 and Japan was #3. Rounding out the top 5 were Germany and Australia. The UK came in at #6, and the US rose to #7.
Respondents painted a bleak picture when asked about nations’ trustworthiness. While the US was perceived as the most powerful country in the world, data showed it was not perceived as trustworthy. Canada was seen as the most trustworthy country, and has been since the first Best Countries report in 2016. During that same time, perceptions of the US as being trustworthy steadily dropped to a record low of 16.3 on a 100-point scale. The UK also fell in this attribute, while Greece, South Korea and Spain improved.
There was a global consensus about the effect of climate change. 87% agreed that climate change was serious. Of the 36 countries surveyed, people in Russia agreed about climate change the least (71%), and Indonesia agreed the most (97%) along with African nations like Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. But only 60% of respondents agreed their country was effectively addressing its effects.
Global anxiety about technology persisted. 74% of people thought large technology companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon should be limited, and about the same number agreed that technology was displacing jobs. The UK, Canada and Australia agreed most with limiting large technology corporations. In Japan, which was perceived as a technology powerhouse, 31.5% agreed that technology was displacing jobs; 55% agreed that big tech should be limited.
Gender equality was viewed favourably, but there was a gap between perception and reality. 90% of respondents agreed that women should be entitled to the same rights as men. However when asked whether women actually did have the same economic opportunities as men in their countries, only 64% agreed. 69% of people said they view traditional gender roles as important to a functioning society, a perception similar between men (73%) and women (66%).
“This year’s Best Countries rankings continued to show us human rights, diversity, sustainability and free trade were all top of mind for many worldwide, connecting us together. These fundamental topics were vital to a nation’s brand strength and reflected how the quality of life can have a dramatic influence on global perception,” said Michael Sussman, CEO, BAV Group. [I might disagree with these measures being the most important].
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Canada's Rideau Canal, C19th,
made up of a chain of lakes, rivers and canals stretching 202 ks from Kingston to Ottawa.
Canadian Tourism Commission
The 2020 Best Countries methodology used data gathered from a proprietary survey of 20,000+ business leaders; college educated individuals that were at least middle class; and general citizens who were representative of their country. The goal of the Best Countries report was to understand how global perceptions are related to investment, foreign trade and tourism of a nation, David Reibstein, professor of marketing at Wharton, correctly noted. But in my opinion, Best Countries should also measure peace for the residents, democracy, universal health care, adequate social housing, unemployment rates, free schooling for all children etc
Respondents painted a bleak picture when asked about nations’ trustworthiness. While the US was perceived as the most powerful country in the world, data showed it was not perceived as trustworthy. Canada was seen as the most trustworthy country, and has been since the first Best Countries report in 2016. During that same time, perceptions of the US as being trustworthy steadily dropped to a record low of 16.3 on a 100-point scale. The UK also fell in this attribute, while Greece, South Korea and Spain improved.
There was a global consensus about the effect of climate change. 87% agreed that climate change was serious. Of the 36 countries surveyed, people in Russia agreed about climate change the least (71%), and Indonesia agreed the most (97%) along with African nations like Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. But only 60% of respondents agreed their country was effectively addressing its effects.
Global anxiety about technology persisted. 74% of people thought large technology companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon should be limited, and about the same number agreed that technology was displacing jobs. The UK, Canada and Australia agreed most with limiting large technology corporations. In Japan, which was perceived as a technology powerhouse, 31.5% agreed that technology was displacing jobs; 55% agreed that big tech should be limited.
Gender equality was viewed favourably, but there was a gap between perception and reality. 90% of respondents agreed that women should be entitled to the same rights as men. However when asked whether women actually did have the same economic opportunities as men in their countries, only 64% agreed. 69% of people said they view traditional gender roles as important to a functioning society, a perception similar between men (73%) and women (66%).
“This year’s Best Countries rankings continued to show us human rights, diversity, sustainability and free trade were all top of mind for many worldwide, connecting us together. These fundamental topics were vital to a nation’s brand strength and reflected how the quality of life can have a dramatic influence on global perception,” said Michael Sussman, CEO, BAV Group. [I might disagree with these measures being the most important].
made up of a chain of lakes, rivers and canals stretching 202 ks from Kingston to Ottawa.
Canadian Tourism Commission
The 2020 Best Countries methodology used data gathered from a proprietary survey of 20,000+ business leaders; college educated individuals that were at least middle class; and general citizens who were representative of their country. The goal of the Best Countries report was to understand how global perceptions are related to investment, foreign trade and tourism of a nation, David Reibstein, professor of marketing at Wharton, correctly noted. But in my opinion, Best Countries should also measure peace for the residents, democracy, universal health care, adequate social housing, unemployment rates, free schooling for all children etc
So I checked Quality of Life. Beyond the essential ideas of broad access to food and housing, to quality education and health care and employment, this measure may also include intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.
For Quality of Life
1. Canada
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Norway
5. Australia
6. Netherlands
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Finland
10. Germany
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Norway
5. Australia
6. Netherlands
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Finland
10. Germany