What is the world's "best" country?
Identifying the "best" country in the world is a little like picking the best sandwich -- largely a matter of taste and dependent on whether you can afford it. Still, U.S. News has come up with an answer: Germany.
In naming it No. 1, the magazine cites Germany's robust economy, global clout and leadership role in tackling major issues, such as the flood of refugees in Europe and eurozone debt crisis. On the business front, the country gets high marks for its worker training programs and corporate innovation, while Germany's political system, under the steady hand of Chancellor Angela Merkel, is seen as effective.
"People view Germany as the best country for fostering entrepreneurship, and rank it high for the power it wields and the quality of life it provides its citizens," according to U.S. News, which worked with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and advertising firm WPP to compile the ranking.
The U.S. comes in at No. 4 on the list, scoring tops in power and ranking high for its cultural influence, entrepreneurship and civic life. Rounding out the top five are Canada (No.2), the U.K. (No. 3) and Sweden (No. 5). Rising superpower China lands at No. 17.
Such rankings are problematic. First, U.S. News examined only 60 nations, when there are more than 190 countries in the world (The exact number is subject to debate). Second, the list is based on a survey of 16,500 people, who rated each country based on 65 attributes that were then correlated to a nation's per capita gross domestic product. Even if efforts were made to find a cross-section of respondents by age, income, race and other demographic factors, that is a tiny sample size.
Third, and as U.S. News readily acknowledges, choosing the best country is highly subjective. Germany, for instance, is credited with working to ensure "unity" in the eurozone. Many Greeks, which continue to suffer under a punishing regime of government spending cuts and high taxes orchestrated by Germany, might have a different opinion.
Similarly, survey respondents ranked Luxembourg first in terms of what U.S. News calls being "open for business." That's one way to put it, given the Grand Duchy's renown for helping wealthy individuals and corporations avoid taxes.
A country's GDP also makes for a crude measure of comparison with other nations because it doesn't factor in less tangible attributes.
For example, Canada ranks first when it comes to overall quality of life, according to U.S. News, citing its economic stability and equality, safety, and "family friendly" policies, among other positive traits. But the analysis seems to look past ethnic and cultural diversity as a feature that makes states stronger.
Speaking at this week's annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed to diversity as the country's greatest strength. "We need societies that recognize diversity as a source of strength and not of weakness," he said. "When diverse ways of seeing and thinking come together, they spark creativity. Diversity is something leaders can do much about."