日本国際競争力排２１位

A few weeks age the NHK News on-line reported the following:

日本の国際競争力 ２１位に上昇

5月22日 7時40分

スイスの研究機関が６０の国と地域を対象に行った国際競争力に関する調査で、日本は円安傾向でコスト競争力が向上していることに加え、企業の技術革新などが評価され、総合評価で２１位と、前の年から順位を３つ上げました。

この調査はスイスの「経営開発国際研究所」が毎年、行っているもので、各国の国際競争力について、企業活動や教育、労働市場など３００を超える統計を基に順位づけしています。
それによりますと、日本は対象となった６０の国と地域のうち総合評価で２１位となり、前の年の２４位から順位を３つ上げました。調査では、円安傾向でコスト競争力が向上していることや、企業が研究開発に多額の資金を投じ、技術革新を進めていることなどが高く評価された一方で、政府の債務残高や語学力などの分野では評価が低くなっています。
総合評価の１位は、インフラ整備などで評価が高かったアメリカが２年連続で獲得し、２位はスイス、３位はシンガポールでした。
また、新興国では、中国が２３位、インドが４４位、ブラジルが５４位と、それぞれ順位を落とし、研究所では経済成長の減速や海外からの投資の鈍化などが要因だとしています。

(試譯文)

In an investigation on global competitiveness performed by a research institution in Switzerland on 60 countries and the areas, for Japan, in addition to its cost competitiveness improvement due to its weak-yen tendency, its technical innovation in companies etc. were also evaluated. In a comprehensive evaluation its ranking was at the 21st place, moved up 3 positions compared with the previous year.

The "Management Development International Research Institute" in Switzerland conducted this investigation. It carried out ranking every year based on over 300 statistical items such as corporate activity, education and the labor market regarding the global competitiveness of each country.

According to it Japan’s ranking was raised by three positions, from the 24th place in the previous year to 21st place in a comprehensive evaluation among 60 countries and regions that were targeted. In the investigation, the cost competitiveness improvement due to the weak-yen trend, the large amount of fund invested in research and development by companies, and the advancement in technical innovations etc. were areas highly assessed. Evaluations were low in areas such as governmental outstanding debts and linguistic capacity.

Regarding the 1st place, for two consecutive years it was taken by the United States with evaluation in infrastructure building etc. standing high in the comprehensive evaluation. The 2nd place was Switzerland and the 3rd place was Singapore.

Moreover, on newly emerging countries, China was in the 23rd place, India in the 44th place, Brazil at the 54th place respectively down the list. To the research institute it was supposed that the slowdown in economic growth together with the slowdown in investments from overseas etc. were the factors.

It is not surprising to know that Singapore is in the 3rd place. I am interested to know Hong Kong’s ranking position in this survey.