India 55th most competitive economy, moves up 16 positions - Hindustan Times
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India 55th most competitive economy, moves up 16 positions

PTI | By, Geneva
Sep 30, 2015 11:11 AM IST

In a big jump, India has moved up 16 positions to rank 55th on a global index of the world’s most competitive economies.

In a big jump, India has moved up 16 positions to rank 55th on a global index of the world’s most competitive economies, where Switzerland continues to remain on top.

India ranks 55th on the latest global competitiveness index, released on Wednesday.(AFP photo)
India ranks 55th on the latest global competitiveness index, released on Wednesday.(AFP photo)

The jump in India’s position underlines the country’s recent economic recovery, improvement in institutions’ competitiveness, macroeconomic environment and a “slight improvement” in infrastructure, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its latest Global Competitiveness report.

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Switzerland has retained its top position as the world’s most competitive economy for seventh year in a row and is followed by Singapore, the US, Germany and the Netherlands in the top-five.

These are followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Sweden and the UK in the top-ten.

Among emerging economies, India has ended five years of decline with a 16-place jump to 55th position. However, South Africa is ranked higher and it has re-entered the top 50, progressing seven places to 49th.

WEF said that the most problematic factors for doing business in India include corruption, policy instability, inflation and access to finance.

The areas where India ranks better were investor protection, gross national savings, quality of education system, venture capital availability, hiring and firing practices, GDP and domestic market size, public trust in politicians and burden of government regulation.

Elsewhere, macroeconomic instability and loss of trust in public institutions dragged down Turkey (51st), as well as Brazil (75th), which posted one of the largest falls.

China, holding steady at 28, remains by far the most competitive among large emerging economies, although its lack of progress in moving-up the ranking shows the challenges it faces in transitioning its economy, the WEF said.

In terms of competitiveness of its institutions, India is ranked 60th (out of total 140 countries and up by 10 positions from last year), while for infrastructure it has gained six places to 81st.

For macroeconomic environment, India is ranked 91st, helped by a reduction in commodity prices and improvement in the government’s budget deficit.

WEF further said, “To improve further, India must stay the course -- its overall ranking is still hampered by one of the highest budget deficits in the world (131 out of 140)...”

“(Besides) the quality of its electricity supply which is still too low (91st) and, surprisingly for a country with so many IT champions, the overall technology readiness of its businesses, which comes in at a poor 120, up just one position on 2014.”

WEF said its survey of top executives also finds corruption followed by political instability and inflation, as the most problematic factor to doing business in the country.

The Geneva-based think-tank further said a failure to embrace long-term structural reforms that boost productivity and free up entrepreneurial talent is harming the global economy’s ability to improve living standards.

The study, released on Wednesday, assesses 140 countries on the basis of factors driving their productivity and prosperity.

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