Official Site - The Legatum Prosperity Index is the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing; unlike other studies that rank countries by actual levels of wealth, life satisfaction or development, the Prosperity Index produces rankings based upon the very foundations of prosperity – those factors that help drive economic growth and produce happy citizens over the long term.

Entrepreneurship & Opportunity Sub-Index

A strong entrepreneurial climate in which citizens can pursue new ideas and opportunities for improving their lives leads to higher levels of income and wellbeing. Specifically, the Entrepreneurship & Opportunity (E&O) sub-index measures countries’ performance in three areas: entrepreneurial environment, innovative activity, and access to opportunity. As illustrated in the chart below, the variables in the sub-index are categorised into these areas.

Such factors as low costs to starting a business and public perception of a good entrepreneurial environment are important to improving citizens’ economic prospects and their overall wellbeing. The sub-index also assesses a country’s ability to commercialise innovation, as well as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure that exists to enable productive commercial endeavours. Lastly, it captures elements of access to opportunity by tracking the unevenness of economic development across socioeconomic groups and whether or not citizens believe hard work pays off in the future.

The E&O sub-index builds upon scholarship that shows how entrepreneurship drives innovation and leads to economic growth. It also uses research demonstrating the positive impact of an individual realising his or her entrepreneurial potential. When a country increases the likelihood that entrepreneurial activity will pay off, and when individuals experience the satisfaction that comes from earning their success, a society’s prosperity increases overall.

Sub-Index Rankings