U.S. No. 1 in Competitiveness, Survey Says

The United States has become the world’s most competitive nation, knocking Singapore out of the top spot, according to a new survey. The report, prepared by three Harvard University professors and the World Economic Forum of Geneva, aims to predict which countries are more likely to have a high rate of economic growth. The authors said countries scored well if they were judged to be innovative and effective users of technology, had high rates of saving and investment and were well integrated in the world economy. Singapore, now second, has led the list the previous four years that the report has been published. The United States, which ranked fourth in 1996, moved to third in 1997 and 1998 before reaching No. 2 last year.