Ecco l'analisi che riguarda i Paesi europei.
Europe continues to feature prominently among the most competitive regions in the world, with 12 European Countries among the top 20, as follows: Switzerland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Sweden (4th), Finland (6th), Germany (7th), the Netherlands (8th), the United Kingdom (12th), Austria (14th), Norway (15th), France (16th), Belgium (19th), and Iceland (20th). However, the picture for Central and Eastern Europe is bleaker, with several Countries losing positions in the rankings echoing the recent economic downturn in the region.
The United Kingdom falls three positions to 12th place this year. Among the Country's notable strengths is the efficiency of its labor market (ranked 8th), standing in contrast to the rigidity of many other EU Countries. In addition, notwithstanding the recent financial crisis, the United Kingdom's financial markets continue to be assessed as among the most efficient in the world, although they have slipped from 2nd to 5th place since last year, attributable to rising concerns in the business sector about the soundness of banks and the ease of access to various forms of capital. The United Kingdom is also harnessing the latest technologies for productivity improvements; it is ranked 8th on the technological readiness pillar. On the other hand, the Country's greatest weakness remains its macroeconomic environment (ranked 58th), with low national savings, a growing public-sector deficit, and consequential public indebtedness.
France is ranked 16th in this year's GCI, up two places from last year and demonstrating a number of competitive strengths. The Country's infrastructure is among the best in the world (ranked 2nd), with outstanding transport links, energy infrastructure, and communications. The health of the workforce and the quality and quantity of education provision are other clear strengths (ranked 9th for health and primary education and 16th for higher education and training), ensuring a healthy and educated workforce. In addition, the sophistication of its business culture (9th in the business sophistication pillar) and its leadership in the area of technological innovation (16th in the innovation pillar) are important attributes that have helped to boost the Country's growth potential. On the other hand, a number of weaknesses are hindering the Country from unleashing its competitive potential. France's labor market flexibility continues to be ranked very low (131st) because of the rigidity of wage determination, high nonwage labor costs, and the strict rules on firing and hiring, as well as the poor labor employer relations in the Country. It is clear that structural reforms in this area, long mooted, are long overdue. Another area of concern is macroeconomic stability (65th): the government budget deficit and the related public-sector debt ratio remain large, and the national savings rate, while growing, still remains low by international standards.
In spite of the economic slowdown recently observed in Spain, the Country remains stable at 29th place. Spainss competitiveness performance continues to be boosted by the large market (12th) available to its national companies; a highly sophisticated business sector (24th), which is effectively leveraging ICT and exogenous technology (29th in the technological readiness pillar); first-class infrastructure (22nd); good-quality higher education and training (30th); and strong macroeconomic fundamentals (30th). On a more negative note, its institutional environment (43rd) and innovation potential (39th) could be strengthened to further buttress its economic potential. And the greatest area of concern remains the highly inflexible labor market (126th), a matter of particular concern given the recently rising unemployment in the Country.
On a less positive note, Italy (ranked 49th) is down by three places this year. The Country continues to do well in more complex areas measured by the GCI, particularly the sophistication of its businesses environment. Italy is ranked 21st for its business sophistication, producing goods high on the value chain using the latest production processes, thanks also to strong business clusters. However, Italy's overall competitiveness performance is held back by some critical structural weaknesses in the economy. The labor market remains among the most rigid in the world, with Italy ranked 129th out of 134 Countries for its labor market flexibility, creating a large hindrance to job creation. Another problematic area is its weak public finances and extremely high levels of public indebtedness (ranked 123rd on this indicator), related to the inefficient use of public resources (it is ranked 128th for the wastefulness of government spending). Other institutional weaknesses are its high levels of corruption and organized crime and a perceived lack of independence within the judicial system, which increase business costs and undermine investor confidence.
Among the 12 Countries that joined the European Union (EU) since 2004, Estonia (ranked 32nd) continues to be, by a significant margin, the most competitive economy, despite a fall of five places in the rankings since last year. Estonia has built up efficient government institutions (ranked 23rd) and well-functioning markets. The government manages public finances adeptly and has been successful in its efforts to make Estonia one of the most aggressive Countries in adopting new technologies for productivity enhancements (17th). The drop in the Country's ranking is mainly attributable to a lower government budget surplus and increasing inflation, and echoes the recent economic downturn in the Baltic region. This stands in contrast to Bulgaria (ranked 76th), one of the newest and the lowest ranked EU members. Bulgaria's low ranking is attributed, among other factors, to infrastructure inadequacies and institutional weaknesses including burgeoning corruption. However, on a positive note, Bulgaria has moved up four places in the rankings since last year, an improvement possibly linked to the perceived benefits brought about by accession, a trend also witnessed in Romania (up six positions at 68th position), the other new EU member since 2007.
Russia is ranked 51st, up seven places from last year. Russia's main strengths are its large market size and improving macroeconomic stability (partly thanks to windfall oil revenues). However, to improve its competitiveness further, the Country must tackle a number of structural weaknesses. Of major concern is a perceived lack of government efficiency (116th), the lack of independence of the judiciary in meting out justice (109th), and more general concerns about government favoritism in its dealings with the private sector. Private institutions also get poor marks, with corporate ethics in the Country placing Russia 112th overall on this indicator. In addition, goods and financial markets are inefficient by international standards (ranked 99th and 112th respectively). All these areas make it very difficult to do business in the Country and should be addressed to place Russia on a more sustainable development path going forward.
