Romania ranks 11th in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and is ranked 50th in the global prosperity index (Legatum Prosperity Index), Shanker Singham, director of the Economic Policy of Legatum Institute said on Thursday.
“Romania has surged in the top, it is ranked 50th in the world in top global terms. Austria ranks 1st among Central and Eastern European countries. The prosperity index measures prosperity in terms of nine pillars: the business environment, governance, the health system, citizens’ education and so on. The important issue, if you look at the Romanian top and at the same time look at the latest changes, is that you will see that social impact is the one which places Romania 97th in the world. The situation has improved a lot, but there is a long way to go in comparison with other countries in Western Europe or Central Europe. The level of social capital is a preoccupation and something to which Romania needs to pay more attention to,” Shanker Singham said.
“In Romania, the people do not trust institutions almost at all. When this happens, it is very difficult to have good governance and a good governance system because the institutions that have to regulate the business environment are involved in this process,” he added.
In terms of social capital, Romania ranks 97th globally, up 31 positions, and in health, the 85th position, down 3 positions. The highest position is occupied in terms of business environment – 41st, down by 6 positions.
In CEE level, Romania ranks 11th, behind Hungary – 10th and ahead of Macedonia (12th) or Bulgaria, which is on the 13th position.
The Central and Eastern European countries occupy positions from 15th to 74th in the Legatum Prosperity Index globally, the highest place, 15th being occupied by Austria and 74th by Albania.