The Netherlands holds fourth place in IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2021
The IMD rankings found the Netherlands is in a strong position on the global stage to weather the coronavirus crisis, based on factors such as advanced digitalisation, business efficiency and health infrastructure.
The Netherlands maintains fourth place in IMD World Competitiveness Ranking
The Netherlands has ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2021, retaining its top 5 position for the second consecutive year amid the coronavirus crisis.
For more than 30 years, the World Competitiveness Center at the Swiss Institute for Management Development (IMD) has led research on how nations compete to lay the foundations for future prosperity.
The World Competitiveness Ranking assesses 64 economies by using data and survey responses from executives to measure economic well being. This year, the rankings expose the economic impact of the pandemic across the globe.
The IMD found the countries that performed best are leading in innovation, digitalisation and leadership. A strong social safety net, including unemployment benefits, and a solid health infrastructure helped countries bounce back quicker, it said.
Europe dominated the top 5 this year. Switzerland topped the list for the first time in the 33-year history of the IMD ranking, followed by Sweden and Denmark. Singapore, which ranked first in the two previous years, slipped to fifth place.
Strong scores in business efficiency and economic performance
The Netherlands scored strongly in business efficiency, infrastructure and economic performance. As the Dutch capital, Amsterdam has a dynamic business environment. From startups to multinationals, a wide range of industries exists in the city, attracting a highly skilled workforce and fostering innovation and collaboration.
Amsterdam also has a world-leading digital infrastructure. The AMS-IX data exchange is one of the largest in the world, and Amsterdam leads European rankings for broadband penetration and digital literacy. This helped citizens seamlessly transition to work-from-home during periods of lockdown, as well as use various online services and resources to keep society open.