Best countries on the planet 2018: 10 best in Asia

From Abe’s Japan to Modi’s India and Duterte’s Philippines, many Asian countries rank among the many “best countries on the planet.”

The governments of those countries have the proper policies in place – ones that ensure their people have the chance to begin and grow businesses, lead adventurous lives and profit from their citizenship, heritage and cultural influence.

That’s in keeping with the 2018 U.S. News & World Report, which used nine criteria to create a listing of the highest 80 counties.

Criteria developed in partnership with WPP brand strategy firm BAV Consulting and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Entrepreneurship, Adventure, Citizenship, Cultural Influence, Heritage, Movers, Power, Openness to Business and Quality of Life.

Some of those criteria are also used to evaluate a rustic’s growth potential and investment opportunities, which is why country rankings published in US News & World Report needs to be of interest to investors.

The list doesn’t include rankings by region, but we now have prepared a rating for Asia, covering ten countries.

10. PHILIPPINES

The Philippines ranks average on most criteria, but ranks high on the “Adventure” criterion, which accounts for 3.7% of the rating and includes elements resembling “friendly, fun, nice climate and scenic landscapes.”

Clearly, Duterte’s Philippines has retained something of its Nineteen Sixties glory days, regardless that it has been omitted by successive Asian countries when it comes to GDP per capita.

9. VIETNAM

Like the Philippines, Vietnam ranks average in most criteria, but ranks high in “Movers”, which makes up 10% of the rating and includes elements resembling “Different, Distinctive, Dynamic, Unique” that drive Vietnam’s strong development rates.

Investors took notice. Over the past twelve months, Vietnamese stock markets have been amongst the most effective performing markets in Asia.

8. INDONESIA

Like Vietnam, Indonesia gets high marks for “Moving In.” However, it ranks high in one other criterion, “open for business” (bureaucratism, low production costs, corruption, favorable tax environment, transparent government practices).

A business-friendly environment and falling levels of corruption and debt have helped Indonesians meet up with other Asian countries in recent times and improve their per capita income in comparison with Filipinos.

7. MALAYSIA

Malaysia’s scoring profile could be very much like Vietnam’s.

This means the country scores high on the ‘Movers’ and ‘Open for Business’ criteria, although this has not helped its stock markets, which have performed worse than those of other Asian countries over the past five years.

6. THAILAND

Thailand scores high in 4 criteria: Adventure, Relocation, Heritage (culturally accessible, with a wealthy history, great food, many cultural attractions) and Open for business.

Despite this, Thailand has not yet experienced its former glory days and stays an emerging market.

5. INDIA

India scores high on three criteria: ‘Hits’, ‘Legacy’ and ‘Power’ (leader, economically influential, politically influential, strong international alliances, strong army).

Meanwhile, India has maintained a stable political and macroeconomic environment, reformed its tax system and fought corruption through demonetization.

These policies have helped India’s economy outperform most emerging markets when it comes to GDP per capita growth, while also lowering inflation and unemployment.

4. SOUTH KOREA

South Korea scores high in three areas: “Entrepreneurship” (openness to the worldwide economy, educated population, entrepreneurship, innovation, provides easy accessibility to capital, expert labor, technological knowledge, transparent business practices, well-developed infrastructure, rule of law) , “Power” and “Hits.

3. CHINA

China scores high in 4 areas: “Power”, “Hits”, “Legacy” and “Entrepreneurship”.

China’s strong performance in all three areas, especially in “Entrepreneurship”, is an encouraging sign for the longer term of the world’s second-largest economy. Entrepreneurship will help China take the subsequent step forward from imitation to innovation, which can ensure sustainable development.

2. SINGAPORE

Singapore scores high within the categories of ‘Relocations’, ‘Entrepreneurship’, ‘Cultural Impact’ (culturally relevant for entertainment, fashionable, blissful, culturally influential, modern, prestigious, fashionable) and ‘open for business’.

1. JAPAN

At the highest of the list, Japan ranks high in all areas, especially in “Entrepreneurship”, “Hits”, “Power” and “Cultural Influence”.

Abe’s Japan is attempting to make up for 2 “lost a long time” – a period of slow economic growth that followed the bursting of multiple asset bubbles.

Investors took notice. Japanese stock markets, together with India, have been among the many best-performing Asian markets for the last five years.

In short, here’s a summary Top 10 best performing markets (out of 80 countries assessed) in recent times:

Compiled using data from US News; and Finance.yahoo.com

Source: Forbes.com