Estonia, Slovenia and Lithuania have been judged the best
emerging-country performers in an index that ranks companies and
governments on their efforts to promote and implement responsible
business practice.
The annual Responsible Competitiveness Index, compiled by the Institute
of Social and Ethical Accountability and expanded this year from 51 to
80 nations, examines, among other factors, corruption levels, civic
freedom, environmental management and corporate governance in each
country.
Estonia came 17th, Slovenia 23rd and Lithuania 27th. Outside Europe,
South Africa, Malaysia, Botswana and Costa Rica were judged the best
emerging-market performers. Top of this year’s index, the second to be
compiled, was Finland, with Denmark second and Sweden third.
There was a general alignment between a country’s responsible
competitiveness and its economic competitiveness as ranked by the World
Economic Forum, but some nations bucked that trend, with the US,
Germany, Portugal, Greece and Hungary notable underperformers in
responsible business practice.
