Is the United States Really One
of the Most Competitive Economies
in the World? No.
ROBERT D. ATKINSON | JULY 2022
The United States has consistently ranked near the top of international competitiveness rankings.
But these reports are largely meaningless in measuring actual international competitiveness,
providing policymakers a false sense of optimism about America’s position.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
? Economic indexes from the World Economic Forum, IMD, and others attempt to measure
international competitiveness, and the United States consistently ranks well in them.
? Yet these indexes don’t really measure international competitiveness—and for a variety of
reasons they are biased toward the United States.
? The positive U.S. rankings in these misleading reports act as a drug, leading to dangerous
complacency among U.S. business and government leaders: Why take significant action if
the United States is at or near the top?
? More appropriate measures of competitiveness suggest that the United State is in quite a
weak position—and falling. This requires bold federal action.
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