New Zealand best country for business

Forbes Magazine has listed New Zealand #1 as far as business goes, followed by Denmark and Hong Kong. According to  staff writer Kurt Badenhausen, the United States has fallen to 12th place, mainly due to statutory corporate tax rates and complex tax codes. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2012/11/14/new-zealand-tops-list-of-the-best-countries-for-business/)

According to the CIA Factbook, New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian economy to a more industrialized, free market economy over the last 20 years, however, it is not an economic panacea. "Per capita income rose for ten consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. ...The government plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure, while reining in government spending."

The country suffered two major earthquake events in 2010 and 2011, and census data collection was postponed until March 2013.

Major problems in New Zealand cited by the CIA include disputes over the Ross Dependency territorial claim to a significant consumer amphetamine drug problem.

Graphic: Realm_of_New_Zealand.png - Sesmith, 2011-01-13 07:24 (UTC)