THEItaly the score improves (from 60,49 in 2017 to 62,36 in 2018), but drops by five positions in the world ranking of the most attractive countries for investors, reaching 40th position. They do better than our country, in order, Lithuania (34th), Bahrain (36) Latvia (37) Hungary (38) and Slovakia (39). This is the result of the International Business Compass 2018, the global ranking of economic, political-regulatory and socio-cultural indicators compiled for the seventh time by BDO, the global network of auditing and business consultancy, in collaboration with HWWI (Hamburg Institute of international economics). The objective of the IBC is to quantify the entrepreneurial attractiveness of the various countries of the world in the form of a single index that is an expression of the state of development of society and business of each state.
As regards the individual indicators, the economic conditions improve (56,35 vs 52,25, from 51st to 45th place in the relative ranking), but Italy loses as many as 6 positions at the socio-cultural level despite a score similar to that of last year (59,43 vs 59,16, from 33rd to 39th place in the relative classification).
Italy's attractiveness as a place of production (25th place) and as a final market (19th) within OECD countries remains unchanged. Remains at the top of the productivity chartHolland, which enjoys its central position within the European continent and favorable financial policies. As regards, on the other hand, the attractiveness as a commercial market, it is the Switzerland to leap to command.
At a general level, the dominance of OECD countries is confirmed. The first 4 positions of the ranking do not change compared to the 2017 edition: they are the two main financial centers of Asia, Singapore e Hong Kongto occupy the first 2 positions. Switzerland and Holland are the most attractive European countries, which are confirmed on the third and fourth step. Ireland leaps forward by 2 positions, taking 5th place thanks to the decrease in the unemployment rate and the deficit-GDP ratio.
They lose a position Denmark e Norway, now in sixth and seventh place respectively. They close the top ten Britain, Canada e Australia. Europe is the master conquering 6 of the first 10 positions, but also registers the loss of 4 positions by Germany (hour 12th) e Belgium (17th) and the slip of 9 positions of France (now 28th).
Also noteworthy is the growth of 14 positions by Russia, which in any case stands at 95th place, a good 140th in the ranking of political-normative indicators.
“The situation in our country is not getting worse, but unfortunately it is not improving either – commented Simone Del Bianco, Managing Partner of BDO Italia. – Within OECD countries, Spain and Turkey do better than us economically, despite being among the few worse placed than us in the overall ranking. It is a sign that much still needs to be done to make Italy an attractive destination for international business, both at a political-regulatory level and at an economic level. The positive side of the coin is that there is ample room for improvement for Italy and great opportunities to be seized”.
