I get the feeling that people are voting before they look at how competitiveness is defined in this particular article. Look at the twelve-point development list in the article. Why wouldn't we want to be as "competitive" as possible in these areas? The way they are used, you could almost substitute "competence" for competitive.
I think our biggest challenge as a society is how to be competitive while maintaining integrity. All too often the folks who place a high value on competition do so in the traditional sense of winning, and that leads to behaviors that are too self-serving.
Should America Be More Competitive?
SodaHead News
2011/09/07 23:00:00
|
|
|||||
|
164 votes
|
|
13% | |||
|
1,090 votes
|
|
87% | |||
We're not talking about the Olympics, here. Lord knows we're competitive on the track and in the pool. But we've been slipping on the World Economic Forum's annual Global Competitiveness Report since 2008, when we were at the top of the list.
This year's list puts Switzerland at the top for the third year in a row. Singapore, Sweden, and Finland take the next three spots with the U.S. resting in fifth.
But before you take sides on this, it helps to know what exactly "global competitiveness" even means.
The report explains, "[This report] contributes to the understanding of the key factors determining economic growth, helps to explain why some countries are more successful than others in raising income levels and opportunities for their respective populations, and offers policymakers and business leaders an important tool in the formulation of improved economic policies and institutional reforms."
Each country has its own 12-point development graph which measures the following: institutions, infrastructure, economic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation."
Though the U.S. has an enormous market size relative to most other countries, it falls behind with institutions and macroeconomic environment.
And just when we got news that Americans are the coolest. Thanks for the short-lived high, global competitiveness.
This year's list puts Switzerland at the top for the third year in a row. Singapore, Sweden, and Finland take the next three spots with the U.S. resting in fifth.
But before you take sides on this, it helps to know what exactly "global competitiveness" even means.
The report explains, "[This report] contributes to the understanding of the key factors determining economic growth, helps to explain why some countries are more successful than others in raising income levels and opportunities for their respective populations, and offers policymakers and business leaders an important tool in the formulation of improved economic policies and institutional reforms."
Each country has its own 12-point development graph which measures the following: institutions, infrastructure, economic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation."
Though the U.S. has an enormous market size relative to most other countries, it falls behind with institutions and macroeconomic environment.
And just when we got news that Americans are the coolest. Thanks for the short-lived high, global competitiveness.
Read More: http://reports.weforum.org/global-competitiveness-...
Top Opinion
-
Rams 2011/09/08 14:23:37
Two of those countries are the most socialist in the world today. Singapore you can't spit on the sidewalk without getting a thrashing on your a$$ from a martial arts master with a bamboo stick. And Switzerland, well... they make great watches and cheese, who could compete with that?
Damb Republicans!
Some of our best minds, have not had the opportunity to develop their talent to fruition. Who knows how many potential physicists, engineers, builders, are wallowing in under staffed, under equipped schools right this moment. The next Einstein or George Washington Carver could be sitting behind bars on some petty drug bust. They say true genius is often confused with...I don't know, something or other.
Maybe someone will make the connection and return music and arts to public schools. Invest in improving science and technolgy education in every school (especially the underserved neighborhoods where the real gems may have gone unnoticed). I have no doubt that our tech firms would have an interest in a partnership that will eventually enlarge the pool of researchers that can help the U.S. move forward.
That's why 40% of all working people are on food stamps.