No. 8 Canada

Change Since 2008 Ranking: unchanged

Real Per Capita GDP: $35,669

Real GDP Growth: 0.5%

World Competitiveness Rankings
Economy: 16
Government Efficiency: 9
Business Efficiency: 9
Infrastructure: 7

Unlike the U.S. financial-services sector, Canadian banks have weathered the economic downturn relatively unscathed. The country's proximity to the world's largest economy and its large energy reserves have boosted interest from foreign investors. Economists do worry, however, that local companies are cutting back R&D, particularly in the tech sector.