Features

Aus ranked 34 out of 140 for global connections

DHL has released the fourth edition of its Global Connectedness Index (GCI), a detailed analysis of the state of globalisation around the world, which has ranked Australia 34th out of 140 countries.
The 2016 report shows that global connectedness, measured by cross-border flows of trade, capital, information and people, surpassed its 2007 pre-crisis peak during 2014. In 2015, globalisation’s post-crisis expansion slowed, but the data indicate that it did not go into reverse. Currently available evidence suggests that the world was about eight per cent more connected in 2015 than in 2005.
The information pillar – measured by international internet traffic, telephone call minutes and trade in printed publications – showed the strongest growth over the reporting period (2013-2015). The gains in capital and people flows have been more modest, while the decline in the proportion of goods traded across borders – which began in 2012 – accelerated in 2015.
“Globalisation has served as the world’s engine of progress over the past half century,” commented Deutsche Post DHL Group CEO Frank Appel. “The GCI documents that globalisation has finally recovered from the financial crisis, but faces an uncertain future. It is imperative that policymakers and business leaders support an environment in which globalisation can continue to flourish and improve the lives of citizens around the world.”
“Advanced economies are about four times as deeply integrated into international capital flows, five times as much on people flows, and nine times with respect to information flows,” says globalisation expert Pankaj Ghemawat, who helped research the report. The GCI also notes that if emerging economies become more similar to advanced economies in terms of their connectedness levels, this would provide a powerful boost to overall connectedness.
The 2016 edition also documents a rising proportion of internet traffic crossing national borders, even as international trade and information flows lag their potential. “This underscores the tremendous headroom available for international e-commerce to boost business activity and expand the options available to consumers around the world,” says Jürgen Gerdes, CEO Post – eCommerce – Parcel, Deutsche Post DHL Group.
In addition to a comprehensive overview on the state of globalisation, the 2016 report also provides detailed insights into the connectedness of individual countries and regions. The index ranks countries on their depth (intensity of international flows) and breadth (geographical distribution of flows), which combine for an overall connectedness score between 0 and 100. The Netherlands retained its top rank as the world’s most connected country and Europe is once again the world’s most connected region.
All but two of the top 10 most globalised countries in the world are located in Europe, with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates as the standouts. North America is the second most globally connected region and leads on the capital and information pillars, with the United States as the most connected country in the Americas.

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend