MAPS OF GLOBALIZATION

Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research (KOF) revealed that the United States and Sweden topped the rankings in terms of globalization. The KOF Index of Globalization is designed to measure economic, social and political dimensions of globalization, is available for 123 countries over the period 1970–2008, and is calculated on the basis of 23 variables. The economic dimension of the KOF index measures long distance flows of goods, capital and services as well as information and perceptions that accompany market exchanges. In addition to actual flows of trade and foreign investment, it captures the degree to which a specific country controls capital and trade flows. Meanwhile, the social dimension measures the spread of ideas, information, images, and people, while the political dimension captures diffusion of government policies.

According to the KOF Index of Globalization 2008, Belgium and Austria are the world's most globalized countries – Switzerland ranks 4 (last year: rank 6). The KOF Index of Globalization 2008 shows that globalization is still on the rise, driven by increased economic and political globalization, while social globalization stagnates. The KOF Index of Globalization measures the economic, social and political dimensions of globalization. The index allows comparing degree and changes in globalization over a large number of countries and more than 30 years: The KOF Index of Globalization 2008 is available for 122 countries over the period 1970–2005, and is calculated on the basis of 24 variables.1 The method employed in the calculations allows direct comparison of a specific country's degree of globalization over time.