Ukraine and Russia in WEF Networked Readiness Index Rankings

The World Economic Forum (WEF) carried out regular annual research of the propensity for countries to exploit the opportunities offered by information and communications technology. WEF made up the rankings where all countries are ranked according to their Networked Readiness Index (NRI). In 2009-2010 the first place in these rankings was occupied by Sweden, and Russia and Ukraine occupied only the 80^th and the 82^nd place respectively.

Networked Readiness Index is a composite index that characterizes the level of information and communications technology development in different countries of the world. The countries has been assessed by this index by the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2002. The index measures the level of information and communications technology (ICT) development by 67 parameters which split into three main groups:

1. The environment for ICT development: general condition of market, political and regulatory environment from the point of view of ICT, presence of healthy competition, required infrastructure, the opportunities of financing new projects, regulatory aspects etc.
2. The readiness of individuals, businesses, and governments to use ICT: government's position concerning the information technology development, state expenses for the development of the sphere, availability of the information technology for business, the level of penetration and availability of the Internet, the cost of mobile communication etc.
3. The level of the usage of ICT amongst individuals, businesses, and governments (the community's key stakeholders): the number of personal computers, Internet users, mobile subscribers, the presence of functioning Web resources of governmental organizations, as well as total manufacture and consumption of information technology in the country.

The calculation part of the Index is based on the statistical information provided by international organizations such as the United Nations Organization (UNO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank etc as well as the results of the comprehensive annual survey of the leaders' opinion carried out by the World Economic Forum jointly with its own network of affiliate institutions (research and business organizations) in the countries which have been selected as objects of the research.

In 2009 the first place in the NRI Rankings was occupied by Denmark which has sunk to the third place this year. The second place in the rankings is occupied by Singapore. The fourth line of the rankings is occupied by Switzerland, and the fifth – by the USA. Ukraine occupies the 82^nd position in these rankings, though last year is occupied the 62^th line. Russia occupies the 80^th position in the rankings (compare with the 74^th position last year).

Altogether 133 countries participate in the rankings. You can see the full list at WEF official website.

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networked readiness index, nri ranking, ukraine in nri ranking, russia in nri ranking