Singapore is first in the world for quality of higher education, first in math and science and Singapore's politicians enjoy the highest public trust in the world.
That's according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011, released by the World Economic Forum today.
Singapore remains the world's third most competitive economy, overtaken by Sweden, which has jumped to second place from fourth. Sweden also has the third most trusted politicians in the world, after Singapore and Qatar. (See the list of countries with the most trusted politicians at the end of this post.)
Switzerland remains the world's most competitive economy for the second year running, while America, the former No 1 which dropped to second spot last year, is now down to fourth place. Swiss politicians are the 12th most trusted in the world.
Singapore finishes in the top 20 in almost every category except judicial independence, in which it is ranked 21st, and intensity of local competition, in which it is ranked 28th.
The report is based on national and international data as well as an executive opinion survey. In Singapore, the business executives surveyed were selected with the help of the Economic Development Board. See How the Global Competitiveness Report is prepared.
Singapore is ranked third for the quality of primary education, sixth in the quality of management schools and fifth in internet access for schools.
The report ranks Singapore 17th in capacity for innovation and 20th in availability of latest technologies.
But this little Southeast Asian island of 5 million people does better on other counts.
Singapore is ranked second in government procurement of advanced technological products, sixth in industry-university collaboration, eighth in company spending on R & D, 10th in availability of engineers and 11th in quality of scientific research institutions.
And Singapore's labour market policies are very much in tune with the World Economic Forum.
Singapore is ranked first in labour-employer relations, first in pay and productivity, second in hiring and firing practices, and third in flexibility of wage determination.
You can see the full report on the World Economic Forum website.
The report says Singapore ranks
- First for lack of corruption and for government efficiency
- First for the efficiency of its goods and labour markets
- Second for its financial market sophistication
- Fifth for infrastructure.
Inflation is the most problematic factor for doing business in Singapore, according to the business executives surveyed.
The least problem? Government instability and coups!
Public trust in politicians is highest in the following countries, according to the report. Here they are ranked as they are in the report, based on the level of public trust in their politicians.
- Singapore
- Qatar
- Sweden
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Norway
- United Arab Emirates
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Denmark
- Oman
- Switzerland
- Finland
- The Netherlands
- Tunisia
- Hong Kong
- Australia
- Brunei
- Barbados
- Gambia
- Botswana
- China
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Uruguay
- Cyprus
- Bahrain
- Austria
- Germany
- Namibia
