Austria

Rank: 18 (no change)
Per Capita GDP: $ 50,098
Total Financial Assets: $1.3 trillion
Assets per Person: $158,735
Strengths: Retail credit access, bond markets
Weaknesses: Shareholder protection, impediments to business creation

As the financial gateway to Eastern Europe, Austria has benefited from the region's growth as it emerged from Communism and joined the European Union. Austria ranks highly for its institutional environment, retail access to capital, property rights, and low corruption. But it's difficult to start or close businesses, public debt is high, equity markets are underdeveloped, and the country is weak in M&A and IPO activity.