Sweden is world's 'most networked' economy, as US slips: study

Mar 25, 2010, 16:24 GMT

Geneva - Sweden, Singapore and Denmark topped the list of the world's 'most networked' economies in the latest survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) released Thursday.

According to the 2009-2010 study, a good network enables economic progress, and top countries were seeing their information and communication technology (ICT) acting as catalysts for sustainable growth.

WEF economist Irene Mia said the three leading countries all built their capacity on a 'long-standing focus placed by governments and private sector alike on education, innovation and ICT access and diffusion.'

ICT would help increase development and competitiveness, the WEF said.

Switzerland occupied the fourth position, moving up a notch, while the United States was ranked fifth, falling two spots from last year's list.

Hong Kong moved up four spots to place eighth, but Iceland dropped out of the top 10.

Finland, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway closed the top rankings.

In total, 133 countries were reviewed in the study.