Policy advisor Simon Anholt has dreamed up an unusual scale to get governments thinking outwardly: The Good Country Index. In a riveting and funny talk, he answers the question, “Which country does the most good?” The answer may surprise you (especially if you live in the US or China).
Ireland Contributes The Most Good To Humanity – For the size of its economy and a combined score in all seven categories, Ireland out ranks 124 other nations in contributing the most good to the global community. Here is the full index
An overwhelming majority of the top 30 nations listed on the index are European, making this region the most significant ‘cluster of goodness’ in the world, according to the report. Nine European countries hold a position in the top 10 spots.
Libya holds the last spot in the Good Country Index, next to Iraq and Vietnam.
Russia ranks 95th overall, on par with nations like Honduras, Kuwait, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Good Country Index ranks 125 nations based on how much they do for others globally in seven areas: science and technology, culture, international peace and security, world order, planet and climate, prosperity and equality, and health and well being.
The ranking was created by merging of 35 data sets produced by organizations like the UN, WHO, and UNESCO over a period of nearly 3-years, according to The Economist.
“What I mean by a ‘good country’ is a country that contributes to the greater good,” Simon Anholt, an independent policy advisor who made the index, told Business Insider. “We’ve given each country a balance-sheet to show at a glance whether it’s a net creditor to mankind, a burden on the planet, or something in between.”
Editor’s Note: Anholt’s expertise has been at the service of individual governments. However, he was not paid for his research and contributing academics did so for free.