STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 1 June 2012

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73. Ireland improves global ranking for competitiveness

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0601/1224317057584.html


IRELAND HAS improved its competitiveness, according to a global ranking, reaching 20th place.

While Hong Kong, the US and Switzerland topped the list of 59 economies, Ireland beat countries such as France, Japan and China, and performed well in a number of categories that are important to foreign direct investment.

The World Competitiveness Yearbook is compiled by Swiss-based business school IMD and measures how countries manage economic and human resources to increase prosperity.

Although Ireland was not among the most competitive nations in Europe – Switzerland, Sweden and Germany – the survey noted that it appeared the country, along with Iceland and Italy, was better equipped to “bounce back” compared with Spain, Portugal and Greece. These countries continued to “scare investors”, IMD said.