Digital_Ranking_Report_2021

Preface

The year 2020 started with news of a pandemic out of Wuhan, China. After a slow response by the rest of the world, the aftermath of the pandemic was clear and powerful. The presence of COVID-19 throughout 2020 introduced two great challenges to governments around the world: a health crisis and a consequent economic turmoil. The common domain for successfully addressing the twin challenges of the health and economic crises was the technological infrastructure of countries. People, firms, and countries had to rapidly adapt in the new environment of learning and working online, order their necessities online and enjoy family and friends virtually. In fact, it is the capacity of economies to use digital technologies to transform themselves that the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking measures. We are delighted to present the fifth edition of the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR) for 2021. This year we have the pleasure of welcoming a new economy in the group of countries we study, Botswana, increasing the total number to 64. The three important results we identified examining this year’s rankings follow the suggestions that the Center has echoed in the last few years. The countries who seem to have performed better are those that have managed to have a strong presence in future readiness, that is, with flexible and agile individuals as well as firms, and to integrate the IT technologies in their daily practice. In addition, leading economies are characterized by strong performance in training and education. Finally, leading economies have the ability to allocate capital towards learning and developing new technologies. Once again, we were reminded how fortunate we are to enjoy the support of a large group of stakeholders. Our Partner Institutes , the IMD Alumni community and our Panel of Experts from all the countries generously offer data and insights that are crucial for the completion of this and the other rankings of the Center. This year again, they miraculously managed to make us feel that it was business as usual and not a uniquely complicated and difficult environment. The reason you have this publication in your hands now is, for a great part, because of our stakeholders. We are immensely thankful!

Professor Arturo Bris Director IMD World Competitiveness Center

Dr Christos Cabolis Chief Economist & Head of Operations IMD World Competitiveness Center

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IMD WORLD DI G I TAL COMPET I T I VENESS RANK ING 2021

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