IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013

Abstract

This World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 – our 25th anniversary edition – welcomes Latvia as a new country, thus joining the other Baltic States. Over the past decades, we have gradually expanded the network of countries covered to 60. We work closely with a network of 55 Partner Institutes worldwide and 30 information providers, which help us to ensure the reliability and the timeliness of the competitiveness data presented to you. The World Competitiveness Yearbook provides a “high definition” picture of how countries manage the totality of their competences and resources to achieve growth and prosperity. It can be assimilated to a GPS: it tells you where you are, where you have been but not where you want to go. This remains a decision which is specific to each and every country, and it depends on national objectives, the specificity of a society and the national culture. In short, there is a competitiveness model for every country. Our objective is thus to provide the data needed for such decisions, with an approach which is neutral, comprehensive, and reliable. IMD has done so over the past 25 years and we intend to remain a leader in the field of competitiveness and to provide in the future the same quality information to the world business and government community.