Global competition ranking: A little like the national team, please

“Hopp Schwiiz!” When the Swiss national soccer team, affectionately known as “Nati,” competes at the World Cup, one thing is certain: they will be there and will play well. In contrast to Austria, the smaller neighbors regularly qualify and this time even fought their way to the quarter-finals.

Not a coincidence, but the result of consistent development work: long-term promotion of young talent, professional structures, reliability, team spirit. Virtues that also characterize the Swiss economy. The Swiss are consistently at the top of the global IMD competition rankings, even though they were relegated to third place this year by Hong Kong and Singapore.

While Switzerland is at the top of the world, Austria is falling further and further behind and is only ranked 29th (see pages 28/29). High wage costs, complicated bureaucracy, discouraged reforms – instead of playing with enthusiasm and getting to the goal, there is a lack of enthusiasm in the midfield. Switzerland invests specifically in education, research and infrastructure and focuses on competition instead of preserving vested interests. And she thinks long-term, not just until the next election.

Austria could learn a lot from the pragmatism and determination of the Swiss. It’s not just in football that if you want to play internationally, you have to train, reform – and also deliver.