U.S. drops to 6th in world competitiveness ranking

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. drops to 6th in world competitiveness ranking
Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:17am ET

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States fell to sixth place in the World Economic Forum's 2006 global competitiveness rankings, ceding the top place to Switzerland, as macroeconomic concerns eroded prospects for the world's largest economy.

In a report released on Tuesday, the World Economic Forum said Washington's huge defense and homeland security spending commitments, plans to lower taxes further, and long-term potential costs from health care and pensions were creating worrisome fiscal strains.

"With a low savings rate, record-high current account deficits and a worsening of the U.S. net debtor position, there is a non-negligible risk to both the country's overall competitiveness and, given the relative size of the U.S. economy, the future of the global economy," it said.

Switzerland was deemed the most competitive economy in the 2006 rankings, followed by Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Singapore. The United States had topped the 2005 index.
(snip/)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-09-26T091652Z_01_L2681443_RTRUKOC_0_US-ECONOMY-COMPETITIVENESS.xml&archived=False

[gorbal]

1. Sweden and Denmark top all the indexes

Happiness indexes, standard of living indexes, now economic indexes....those darn failed welfare states with weak immigration laws...

[ima_sinnic]

2. yes, "socialist" countries are always failures

according to an unnamed DUer yesterday.

[gorbal]

3. They aren't "Socialist"

They are capitalist countries with extensive social welfare programs. Europeans are different, they can be staunchly "anti-socialist" while still believing in social welfare programs. China, on the other hand, has been chided in the past for not catering to the social welfare of it's citizens. (although I hear they have been improving things.)

[ShockediSay]

12. they are Working Wellness Majorities

unlike our Ruling Elite Off the Backs of the Many

[Nimrod2005]

4. We are moving to Sweden....nt

[Kip Humphrey]

5. Another Bush achievement?

[Vidar]

6. Makes me proud that all my ancestors were Vikings.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Good

The world economy needs a slowdown.

Beaten by a city-state? Wow.

Also makes things much easier when dealing with a country(or Singapore) with the population equal to or less than most major US cities.

[alfredo]

8. Have the tax cuts to the rich hurt our competitiveness

world wide?

[High Plains]

9. But, hey, we're number one!!!!!!!!!!

In prisoners and prisoners per capita. Go USA!

[lovuian]

10. what makes us not competitive is our health insurance

and yes Socialist countries are showing they are competitive...

[Julius Civitatus]

11. Beaten by countries with national health insurance, good vacations...

good job security and a responsible economy with socialized services. Say it with me: IT´S COMMON SENSE, PEOPLE!

This puts in evidence the neocon-libertarian pipe dream this administration has enforced in America.

Next stop: we turn into Brazil.

[Laughing Mirror]

13. Congratulations Switzerland

I'm surprised US was still no. 1 in 2005, but this is good news for Switzerland. When you have good news you should share it. Maybe this good news will help Switzerland rethink it's recent harsh stance regarding refugees.

[BlueEyedSon]

14. Dammit, aren't any of those top countries in the "sun belt"??