The Global Competitiveness Report 2001-2002

From its inception in 1979, the Report has furnished specific competitive information on the world's key economies, presented as two-page profiles for each economy. These profiles provide: major performance indicators; each economy's rank in competitiveness; and highlights of particular strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the Report presents rankings on major macroeconomic indicators, and rankings on a large number of variables within defined "factors": major economic indicators, openness, government, finance, infrastructure, technology, management, labor, civil institutions, and various supplementary issues. The Report provides the reader with country rankings for each of the variables. Examples of variables include: "Burden of Regulation", "Composition of Public Spending", "Infrastructure Spending", "Competence of Public Officials", "Recession Expectations". Since 1996 the GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT has been developed in collaboration with the Center for International Development at Harvard University. The World Economic Forum has enlisted Professors Jeffrey Sachs and Michael Porter of Harvard University as co-chairmen of the Report.
Professor Sachs co-authors an introductory study, "The Year in Review", a close look at the Report's global macroeconomic indicators that assess prospects for growth over a five to ten year period. Among other key topics, Professor Sachs examines the implications of the recent sharp downturns in many dynamic economies, and assesses short-term and long-term predictive relevance of the Report's Competitiveness Index.