Bulgaria in international rankings 2015

patheos.com

BCCI’s “Economic Analyses and Policy” Department has prepared an overview of Bulgaria’s position in some of the most popular indexes and rankings presented in 2015.

After reviewing the reports of the leading international organizations, which assess the economic development of the countries, it turns out that no cardinal changes have occurred in the positions of Bulgaria.

In the ranking of the World Economic Forum – “Global Competitiveness Report” Bulgaria has retained its 54^th position for two consecutive years. For another year in a row the country’s macroeconomic stability remains among the best assessed criteria included in the report. In the “World Competitiveness Ranking” of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Switzerland, the country climbs up one position – from 56^th place in 2014 to 55^th place in 2015.

Our country keeps its place in 2015 compared to 2014 in the “GDP per Capita Ranking” (93^rd place). It goes down one place in the “Budget Transparency Index” (18^th place in 2015) and “Human Development Index” (59^th place in 2015).

More significant growth is observed in the classification reporting on economic freedom, in which from 61^st place in 2014 the country goes up to 55^th position in 2015 (according to data of The Heritage Foundation). It is noted that Bulgaria has taken steps to control budget deficits and public debt more effectively, but further reform is necessary, in particular institutional, to promote judicial independence and tackle corruption.

On the other hand, greater drop is registered in the “International Property Rights Index” in which Bulgaria loses 18 positions – 68^th place in 2015 in comparison to 50^th position a year earlier.

Slight deterioration is registered in Bulgaria’s position in the rankings reporting on the conditions for doing business. According to the World Bank report “Doing Business 2016”, Bulgaria ranks 38^th out of 189 countries, compared to 36^th place occupied in last year’s report. The lowest assessment in the ranking is for the “Connecting with Electricity” criteria - 100^th place. In the Forbes’ classification “Best Countries for Business” Bulgaria loses 3 positions – from 42^nd place in 2014 to 45^th place in 2015.

BCCI considers that our country’s results in these indexes and rankings are an important reference point for the priorities of economic development so as to bring the country forward.