Italy comes out badly in the classification for global competitiveness in this year's World Economic Forum report. In its review of economic conditions in104 countries, Italy is now standing at 47, six places down from last year, well behind other leading European countries, and behind China and Botswana for the first time. The ratings are based on publicly available data, industrial production, business confidence, investment and trade as well as opinions and observations from business leaders in the countries classified

Italian business are amongst the most taxed in the world standing at 100 on the list of 104 countries, and it has almost the worst bureaucracy, place in the 103rd position out of the 104 listed.