New IMD research 2025: World competitiveness
From Government Policy to Business Acumen:
Strategizing for Competitiveness in a Fragmented World
Highlights from the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking.
We live in times of global uncertainty, with geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and social polarization fundamentally transforming the rules of country competitiveness.
Today’s landscape presents risks and opportunities. To stay competitive,
governments and organizations must understand these dynamics and build a toolkit of strategic lessons that can be applied to whatever emerges.
What should business leaders do?
A six-step guide
for leaders navigating challenges to the competitiveness of their economies
1. Manage currency risk
2. Diversify supply chains
3. Manage inflation and interest rate volatility
4. Adapt to economic nationalism and protectionist policies
5. Leverage digital transformation and innovation ecosystems
6. Make green imperatives sources of competitive advantage
Countries where the largest portion of executives surveyed say:
Lack of economic opportunities should be the greatest concern for my economy.
Bottom line:
Latin American countries are shouting loudly
above the rest in terms of political fragmentation, indicating an acute need to address this in the region.
Social inequalities should be the greatest concern for my economy.
Bottom line:
There are just as many developing as developed
countries voicing concern, meaning social inequalities form aglobal issue.
Social inequalities should be the greatest concern for my economy.
Bottom line:
Emerging economies in particular are signaling a lack of economic opportunities; part of their ongoing struggle with deep-rooted economic issues such as inadequate infrastructure, weak institutions, and limited human capital.
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World Competitiveness Center
Dedicated to the advancement of knowledge on world competitiveness
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