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Germany is the best country in the world — according to US News!.
A report released at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday has ranked the best countries in the world, putting Germany in the number one spot.
This is based on new research that aggregates 75 scores for everything from culture to business and regulation, and much else besides. And to be fair, the research is based on a global survey of some 16,000 people, asking them about their perceptions of a host of countries. The inaugural survey was conducted by ad agency WPP, the Wharton business school, and US News & World Report.
WPP led the survey, using a similar methodology to the one it employs to measure consumers’ perception of company brands. Countries, like companies, should think carefully about cultivating their brands, it argues. This, in turn, will generate returns via foreign trade, investment, and the like.
By this measure, Germany appears to be doing something right. At the launch of the report at the World Economic Forum in Davos, chancellor Angela Merkel, in particular, received a lot of praise for her role in promoting Brand Deutschland. A panel of senior execs lauded Merkel for the conviction and consistency of her vision, most recently with regards to the masses of migrants seeking refuge in Germany.
Germans themselves may have mixed feelings about all this, but there is little doubt that Merkel—and by extension, the country she leads—is having a moment.
The only major sub-category in WPP’s rankings where Germany failed to place highly was for “adventure” (a lowly 45th). But amid Europe’s economic disorder and political turmoil, even that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Here are the U.S. News & World Report, BAV Consulting and Wharton School best countries rankings:
1. Germany
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. United States
5. Sweden
6. Australia
7. Japan
8. France
9. Netherlands
10. Denmark
Agencies/Canadajournal
