THE NETWORK
THE NETWORK'S REPORTS
GCN AND THE FORUM MISSION
PURCHASING REPORTS
Where is the Global Competitiveness Network (GCN) based?
The Global Competitiveness Network is part of the World Economic Forum, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Within the Forum, the Network is part of the Strategic Insight Teams.
How can I contact the team?
Contact the Network's team by email: gcp@weforum.org. If you'd like to interview any of the Network's economists, email or call the Forum's public affairs team (contact details are in the Media Centre).
What does the GCN do and what is its goal?
The GCN team focuses on two important areas: reports and workshops. The Network's goal is to help nations improve their economies by publishing its competitiveness research and leading workshops about national and regional competitiveness. Through its work the GCN identifies obstacles to growth and thus helps nations develop strategies to achieve sustained economic progress.
What is the GCN famous for?
The Forum’s flagship publication, the Global Competitiveness Report, has become the most authoritative and comprehensive assessment of national economies throughout the world. It is released every autumn and its results are reported by national and international news organizations such as the BBC, Bloomberg, El País, Le Monde, the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Newsweek, the Financial Times, Forbes, and many more international and national media.
The Global Competitiveness Network also publishes the internationally renowned Global Information Technology Report, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report and a number of topical and regional reports.
How long has the Network been running?
The Global Competitiveness Report is the longest running element of the Network. It was first launched by the founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, in 1979, as a study of leading European economies.
Has the Network's work changed over the years?
The reports and related indexes have evolved over the years. Experts collaborating with the Forum have introduced new and better ways of measuring national competitiveness, the most recent being the Global Competitiveness Index, developed for the Forum by Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin from Columbia University. Country coverage in the reports has also expanded significantly over the years. In 1979, the report covered 16 European countries. In 2007, the GCR covered a record number of 131 economies worldwide.
What does The Global Competitiveness Report measure?
The Global Competitiveness Report assesses the ability of countries to provide high levels of prosperity to their citizens. This in turn depends on how productively a country uses available resources. Therefore, the Global Competitiveness Index measures the set of institutions, policies, and factors that set the sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic prosperity.
What is the Global Competitiveness Index?
The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) is a new, more comprehensive tool to assess competitiveness of nations. Developed for the World Economic Forum by Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin of Columbia University, the new index extends and deepens the concepts and ideas underpinning the Growth Competitiveness Index formerly used by the Forum. Officially launched in September 2006 as part of The Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007, the GCI has now become our main index of reference.
How is the Global Competitiveness Index calculated?
The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) is made up of over 113 variables, of which approximately one two thirds come from the Executive Opinion Survey, and one third comes from publicly available sources. The variables are organized into 12 pillars, with each pillar representing an area considered as an important determinant of competitiveness:
- Institutions
- Infrastructure
- Macroeconomic stability
- Health and primary education
- Higher education and training
- Goods market efficiency
- Labor market efficiency
- Financial market sophistication
- Technological readiness
- Market size
- Business sophistication
- Innovation
The impact of each pillar on competitiveness varies across countries, in function of their stages of economic development. In order to take this reality into account in the calculation of the GCI, pillars are given different weights. The structure of the index is available in the appendix of Chapter 1.1 of The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 under www.weforum.org/gcr.
What are the difference between the Global Competitiveness Index and the Growth Competitiveness Index?
Both Indices result from the World Economic Forum’s efforts to identify and measure the key drivers of competitiveness. The Growth Competitiveness Index with 35 variables is a less sophisticated structure which captures three key drivers of growth: the macroeconomic environment, the quality of public institutions and technology. By contrast, the Global Competitiveness Index, rich of over 113 variables, is a much more comprehensive tool. It incorporates concepts that theoretical and empirical work suggest are important determinants of competitiveness, such as the functioning of labour markets, the quality of a country’s infrastructure, the state of education and public health, and the size of the market.
What is the Executive Opinion Survey?
The Executive Opinion Survey is a major component of The Global Competitiveness Report and provides the key ingredient that turns the Report into a representative annual measure of a nation’s economic environment and its ability to achieve sustained growth. The Survey gathers valuable information on a broad range of variables for which hard data sources are scarce or, frequently, nonexistent. It is conducted annually, with respondent numbers increasing every year (currently just over 11,000) in 131 countries.
What are the Partner Institutes and how are they chosen?
Partner Institutes of the Global Competitiveness Network are, typically, leading national research institutes. They are also business organizations committed to promoting the development of economic competitiveness and productivity to ensure sustainable growth nationally and globally. For each country featured in GCN reports, a Partner Institute is selected by the World Economic Forum to conduct the Executive Opinion Survey among a representative sample of business leaders in their respective countries. Partner Institutes also coordinate with the World Economic Forum to communicate findings at the national level.
What kind of data is used for these reports?
In addition to the data collected through the Executive Opinion Survey (soft data), the Report uses publicly available data from a number of sources, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations (hard data).
Why aren’t all countries of the world included?
Data used for calculating the index isn't readily available for many countries. Moreover, since the Forum is a not-for-profit organization, funding available to cover the costs of administering the Executive Opinion Survey is limited. However as the leading report on competitiveness the coverage is increasing every year with 131 economies featured in The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008.
What other reports does the GCN produce?
Reports covering specific regions or topics are also produced including The Global Information Technology Report, The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report as well as a number of regional reports covering over the years have been Africa, the Arab World, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe (The Lisbon Review) and Asia.
Reports can be downloaded or bought under www.weforum.org/gcn or www.weforum.org/onlinepurchases
What does the Global Information Technology Report measure?
The Global Information Technology Report assesses, through the Networked Readiness Index, a nation or community’s propensity to participate in, and leverage information and communication technology (ICT) advances for development and growth. The Networked Readiness Index establishes a broad international framework mapping out the enabling factors for such propensity.
How does the GCN contribute to the World Economic Forum's mission to 'improve the state of the world'?
Advanced economic development is extremely difficult without sustained economic growth, and this requires robust national competitiveness. The Forum’s competitiveness reports guide business leaders when making investment decisions. They are also invaluable tools for policy-makers who are seeking to address the obstacles to economic growth and competitiveness. Through various activities, the GCN serves as a platform for discussion between policy-makers, the business community and academia - all working together to increase competitiveness within countries and across regions.
What’s planned for the GCN in the future?
The Global Competitiveness Network will continue to conduct its workshops internationally, and publish its flagship publication, The Global Competitiveness Report. Updated editions of some regional and topical reports are also planned. In general, the GCN will endeavor to produce useful research and reference tools for the public and private sector alike by incorporating the latest research in the field, identifying obstacles to growth and thus helping to improve national economies and the well-being of their citizens.
How can I get copies of the reports?
For purchasing information, please go to the www.weforum.org/gcn page and click on the report you would like to buy. Thank you.
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