US most competitive country in 2015 closely followed by China and Singapore. IMD, the prestigious business school in Lausanne has published its 25th edition of its global competitive ratings in which it examined 61 countries in 2015. The most competitive country in the world is still the US, which in 2014 retained its place at the top of the table. The other countries in the Top 10 are: 2) China + Hong Kong (4th in 2014); 3) Singapore (unchanged); 4) Switzerland (2nd place in 2014); 5) Canada (7th in 2014); 6) Luxembourg (11th in 2014); 7) Norway (10th in 2014); 8) Denmark (9th in 2014); 9) Sweden (5th in 2014); 10) Germany (6th in 2014). IMD made the following comments: - The US remains at the top of the ranking as a result of its strong business efficiency and financial sector, its innovation drive and the effectiveness of its infrastructure. Hong Kong and Singapore have made huge progress in terms of competitiveness, overtaking Switzerland, which drops to fourth place. Hong Kong, in particular, has made some real efforts to improve transparency, cut bureaucracy and tackle corruption; - With just a few exceptions, increased productivity was obtained through job cuts and not by improving efficiency and working methods; two European economies in difficulty have made progress: Italy climbs from 46th to 38th place and Greece moves from 57th place to 50th place through increased business efficiency; France drops from 27th to 32nd place. The challenges facing this country involve reducing administrative red tape, reducing labour costs and taxation; Germany falls four places due to reduced efficiency in the business world (new regulation on the labour market) and fewer innovative companies being set up; in Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia have reduced ratings due to the armed conflict in Ukrainian territory. Ukraine falls from 49th to 60th place and Russia falls from 38th to 45th place; in Asia, the majority of economies losing steam have seen their domestic economies decline or have been hampered by ageing infrastructure; among the emerging economies, South Africa has fallen to 52nd place (a fall of just one place), as well as Brazil (a fall of two places), which is now in 56th place. Mexico managed to climb two places, to 39th position. India has stagnated in 44th place and Mongolia enters the ratings for the first time at 57th position. (Isabelle Lamberty)