Country Insights

Featured Country: Denmark: Formerly home to Viking raiders, the tiny nation of Denmark has now become a prosperous nation committed to the political and economic well-being of the European Union, of which it has been a long-time member. Similar to many other member nations of the European Union, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Although Denmark is lacking in natural resources, it makes up for this with robust workforce. Denmark's manufacturing sector comprises a large amount of its employment and economy along with foreign trade, and produces primarily machinery and instruments and food products, of which Denmark imports the raw materials for. Additionally, Denmark generates all of its own energy. Denmark employs a free market capitalist economy coupled with a large welfare state. The unique composition of Denmark's economy has led to it having one of the world's highest levels of income equality, according the Gini coefficient. Furthermore, Denmark ranks as a low-risk country, as it was ranked as the second most peaceful country in the world in 2008, as well as being the world's least corrupt, according the Corruption Perceptions Index. In 2008, Denmark was the first European country to slip into recession due to lack of consumption caused by shaken consumer confidence in both the Danish and world markets. Although the finance slowdown will continue in 2009, Denmark is primed for recovery, as it topped the list of countries best equipped to navigate the current economic downturn and increase their competitiveness in the near future. The resilience of its businesses and government, long-established stability of its society, and the fact that smaller economies are better able to adapt and rebound in tough times all are contributing factors to the ranking.