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3/26/09

Denmark, Sweden lead US in new global IT ranking report

EU-Digest

Denmark, Sweden lead US in new global IT ranking report

Denmark and Sweden outscore the United States in their ability to develop information and communications technology, according to a survey published today (Thursday) by the World Economic Forum's "networked readiness index". The United States, which topped the list in 2006 before slipping down the rankings, climbed one place to third in the latest edition of the survey. The report covered 134 countries, with Chad, East Timor, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Bangladesh at the bottom. The study largely blamed poor political and regulatory environments in the United States for offsetting some of the benefits of having the world's most competitive economy. The index, which measures the range of factors that affect a country's ability to harness information technologies for economic competitiveness and development, also cited America's low rate of mobile phone usage, a lack of government leadership in information technology and the low quality of mathematics and science education.

Singapore, the top Asian country, and Switzerland ranked 4 and 5. Nordic nations Finland, Iceland and Norway followed, with Netherlands and Canada completing the top 10. China jumped 11 spots to No. 46, leading the group of big emerging economies. India was 54th, five places ahead of Brazil, while Russia was down at No. 74.

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