Finland, the United States and Sweden also occupied the top three places in the table last year, but the report indicated that the United States could have emerged at the top but for worries about current policies and attitudes in Washington.

....

It ranked even lower -- 47th out of the 117 countries studied -- on the health of its macroeconomic environment, echoing, the Forum said, growing international concern about economic imbalances, "especially as it regards public finances."

We're competative, but we're not healthy (in fact at 47 that's going to put us down there with a whole bunch of 3rd world sweatshop countries). That's the sort of thing that does not look good when you're looking at the long term.

Nordic economies lead in competitiveness, study says - Sep. 28, 2005