South Africa has improved its overall competitiveness. In results released by the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2012, published by Switzerland's Institute of Management Development (IMD). South Africa has moved up two notches and is now rated 50 amongst the 59 countries that were surveyed. In 2011 the country was rated 52.
The WCY rankings measure how well countries amongst others use their economic and human resources to increase their prosperity. As the information partner for IMD in South Africa, Productivity SA, plays a crucial role in the report.
The WCY ranking is an annual report on the competitiveness of selected countries and is recognised internationally as the leading survey of competitiveness between nations. The detailed results are published in the 2012 edition of the World Competitiveness Yearbook. The annual yearbook rates the ability of 59 industrialised and emerging economies 'to create and maintain an environment that sustains the competitiveness of enterprises'. Country data was evaluated through 327 distinct criteria, grouped into four competitiveness factors: government efficiency, business efficiency, economic performance and infrastructure.
The rankings are drawn from a combination of hard data and the results of the Executive Opinion Survey. The survey is conducted by the IMD in partnership with a network of partner institutions. These include leading research institutes and business organisations in the countries covered by the report.
The Chairperson of Productivity SA Board Mr. Nel expressed "satisfaction with the positive developments in the rankings". He added that the country needs to aim for a top 10 spot within eight years using structured and clear productivity and competitiveness goals and that the "programme ought to be relentlessly pursued with the support of every citizen driven from the top".
Despite its positive overall competitiveness improvement South Africa, took a dip in its economic performance falling three places to be ranked 57th. In 2011 South Africa was ranked 54th following the macro-economic evaluation of the domestic economy.
South Africa's performance in government efficiency has improved to 29 following a low of 32 in 2011. However this ranking is still below the ranking of 21 in 2010. Comparing South Africa's overall competitiveness ranking with other emerging economies, comparator countries and BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), South Africa performed better than Argentina (55th position) as a comparator country, but poorer than China (23rd), India (35th) and Brazil (46th).
According to the IMD the most competitive economies in 2012 are Hong Kong, the US and Switzerland.
SA - the Good News via SAPA
Steuart has done some 500 talks on South Africa's progress since 1994 and SA's prospects for the future' 
