Best countries for Business - 2015 Forbes

[George Eliot]

7. Sorry for so much to read but this gives you most important information.

Try this if you didn't. I gave it as a second link: http://www.forbes.com/best-countries-for-business/ For some reason, I have no trouble opening either and I don't pay for Forbes.

There is a profile for each of the top ten countries. I'll paste two and I didn't see one for US or any beyond the top ten. The profiels are much more complete than these open encapsulations but you'd have to go read each profile. Basically, they talk about regulations, education, trade, lack of corruption,
1Denmark
GDP $341 B
As of December 2015

At a Glance
GDP Growth: 1.1%
GDP per Capita: $44,600
Trade Balance/GDP: 6.3%
Population: 5.6M
Public Debt/GDP: 45%
Unemployment: 4.9%
Inflation: 0.6% Denmark

1Canada
GDP $1,789 B
As of December 2015

At a Glance
GDP Growth: 2.4%
GDP per Capita: $45,000
Trade Balance/GDP: -2.1%
Population: 35.1M
Public Debt/GDP: 95%
Unemployment: 6.9%
Inflation: 1.9%

Some context:

Europe dominates the top of FORBES’ annual ranking of the finest countries for capitalism—with Scandinavia as a particular stand-out. European countries represent two-thirds of the top 25 with Denmark repeating in the lead position of the Best Countries for Business.
The picture isn’t as bright for the U.S., which slides four spots to No. 22. It continues a six-year descent since 2009 when the U.S. ranked second overall. The U.S. is the financial capital of the world and its largest economy at $17.4 trillion (China is second at $10.4 trillion).

The drop this year by the U.S. can be blamed on a couple of factors. Its rating fell relative to other countries on the World Bank’s measure of investor protection, which is part of the international financial institution’s annual “Doing Business” study. Blame poor scores on the “extent of shareholder governance.” The U.S. also got dinged on the World Banks’ tax component, as well as technological readiness per the World Economic Forum’s “Global Competiveness Report.”

(snip)

We gauged the Best Countries for Business by grading 144 nations on 11 different factors: pr
operty rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom (personal, trade and monetary), red tape, investor protection and stock market performance. Each category was equally weighted. The data came from published reports from the following organizations: Freedom House, Heritage Foundation, Property Rights Alliance, Transparency International, World Bank Group and World Economic Forum (click here for more details on the methodology).

Now, the Heritage Foundation did include red tape and regulations as reasons why the US is declining. Because it is a far-right wing think tank begun by Paul Weyrich and headed by Jim DeMint, it take their contribution with great skepticism. I know from my own experience and reading that these countries do have tight environmental regulations.

Also, some of these countries rely on fracking and oil reserves and such other natural resources for their inclusion. Esp. true of Canada. If you watch CBC, Canadians are beginning to talk about their lack of regulations. All is not perfect. Also, many European social democracies are taxed heavily. There are lists of "most-happy countries" and many of these countries comprise the top positions on those lists as well. High taxes means less worry on the part of citizens in these countries. They are relaxed, unhurried and happier.

Does it sound like I'm trying to sell you on becoming a social democracy?

I wish you could read and decide for yourself. Getting rid of environmental regs will turn us into Africa.