Sweden tops rankings as the most networked economy in the 2009-2010 report
INSEAD, the leading international business school, today announced the findings of the 2009-2010 Global Information Technology Report, a study which the school has jointly published with the World Economic Forum for the past nine years. The report examines the key role of information and communications technologies (ICT) as an enabler of a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world in the aftermath of the most serious economic crises in decades.
This year’s report again features the Networked Readiness Index (NRI), which ranks 133 economies by examining the correlation between ICT readiness and economic growth. Sweden ranked first in the 2009-2010 rankings, followed by Singapore and Denmark (which ranked first for the past three years).
"For nearly a decade, The Global Information Technology Report and the Networked Readiness Index have contributed to raising awareness about the importance of ICT as a central tool in the design of policies aimed at increasing nations’ development and competitiveness," said Soumitra Dutta, Roland Berger Professor of Business and Technology at INSEAD and co-editor of the report. "We are proud of the guidance that the report offers to decision-makers and all relevant stakeholders across the globe. We hope this year’s edition will once again place further emphasis on the vital role of ICT in building a better, fairer and more sustainable world."
The Networked Readiness Index examines how prepared countries are to use ICT effectively on three dimensions: the general business, regulatory and infrastructureenvironment for ICT; the readiness of the three key stakeholder groups in a society – individuals, businesses and governments – to use and benefit from ICT; and the actualusage of the latest information and communication technologies available.
Networked Readiness Index 2009-2010
(Top 10)
| Economy | Rank 2009-2010 | Rank 2008-2009 | Change | |
| Sweden | 1 | 2 | 1 | up |
| Singapore | 2 | 4 | 2 | up |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | -2 | down |
| Switzerland | 4 | 5 | 1 | up |
| United States | 5 | 3 | -2 | down |
| Finland | 6 | 6 | 0 | none |
| Canada | 7 | 10 | 3 | up |
| Hong Kong SAR | 8 | 12 | 4 | up |
| Netherlands | 9 | 9 | 0 | none |
| Norway | 10 | 8 | -2 | down |
"Sweden, Singapore and Denmark’s superior capacity to leverage ICT as an enabler of sustainable, long-term economic growth is a direct result of the focus placed by governments and private sectors alike on education, innovation and ICT access and diffusion," said Irene Mia, Senior Economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum and co-editor of the report.
The NRI uses a combination of data from publicly available sources as well as the results of the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum with its network of partner institutes (leading research institutes and business organisations) in the countries included in the report. The survey provides unique data on many qualitative dimensions important to assess national networked readiness.
The cross-country analysis of the drivers of networked readiness provides useful comparative information for making business decisions and additional value to governments wishing to improve their ICT preparedness.
An addendum to the NRI includes specialist contributions written by academics and industry experts that explore different aspects of ICT’s contributions to a more sustainable economy and world, including environmental sustainability, broadband infrastructure and cloud computing. Furthermore, four deep-dive studies on selected national experiences in leveraging ICT for increased competitiveness are included for Spain, Ireland, Tunisia and China.
About the Report
The report is produced by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with INSEAD within the framework of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Programme for Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries.
Published for the ninth consecutive year with extensive coverage of 133 economies worldwide, the report remains the world’s most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.
About The World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests (http://www.weforum.org).
