The Netherlands ranked at 7th position in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2011-12, which assesses how productively countries use available resources and thus their ability to provide high levels of prosperity to their citizens.

The Netherlands' profile highlights
"The Netherlands improves one rank to 7th this year, reflecting a modest strengthening of its institutional framework as well as the efficiency and stability of its financial markets.

Overall, Dutch businesses are highly sophisticated (5th) and innovative (12th), and the country is rapidly and aggressively harnessing new technologies for productivity improvements (5th).

Its excellent educational system (8th in the two related categories) and efficient markets - especially its goods market (9th) - are highly supportive of business activity.

And although the country registered a fiscal deficit in 2010 (5,18 percent of GDP), its macroeconomic environment is more stable than that of a number of other advanced economies (36th).

Last but not least, the quality of its infrastructure is among the best in the world, reflecting excellent facilities for maritime, railroad, and air transport, ranked 2nd, 6th, and 5th, respectively."

Most problematic factors for doing business in the Netherlands
› Restrictive labor regulations
› Inefficient government bureaucracy
› Access to financing
› Tax rates
› Inadequately educated workforce
› Tax regulations
› Inadequate supply of infrastructure
› Poor work ethic in national labor force
› Inflation
› Policy instability

As in previous years, this year’s top 10 remain dominated by a number of European countries.

Top 10
› Switzerland
› Singapore
› Sweden
› Finland
› United States
› Germany
› The Netherlands
› Denmark
› Japan
› United Kingdom

Jennifer Blanke, Lead Economist Director at the World Economic Forum reveals the findings

For more information and statistics download:
› The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012
› Country Profile Highlights