The World Bank has published a report on the state of world’s economies. The report (entitled 2005 International Comparison Program Preliminary Global Report Compares Size of Economies) compares data for the year of 2005 and includes statistics on 146 states. The report has also compared price level in different countries and identified the most and the least expensive countries on the basis of this calculation. If the price level makes up 100 points, it means that it is identical to that of the USA. If the price level exceeds 100 points, the country is more "expensive" than the USA. If it is less than 100 points, the country is less "expensive". The average statistical world’s price level makes up 81 points.
The top five of the most expensive countries for residence and business includes Iceland (154 points), Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Ireland. The USA with its 100 points has occupied the 20th position in the world, yielding to France (115 points), Germany (111 points), Japan and Great Britain (118 points each).
Price level of Russia makes up 45 points, Kazakhstan - 43 points, Georgia - 41 points, Armenia - 39 points, Belarus - 36 points, Azerbaijan and Moldova - 35 points, Ukraine - 33 points, Latvia and Lithuania - 53 points each, Estonia - 62 points.
The cheapest life is in Tajikistan (24 points), Ethiopia, Gambia and Kyrgyzstan (28 points) and Bolivia. For comparison, Saudi Arabia has got 64 points, Egypt - 28 points, Venezuela - 55 points, Sweden - 124 points, Turkey - 64 points, Israel - 83 points, Czech - 60 points, India - 33 points, Iran - 30 points, China - 42 points.
Such ratings yearly influence the macroeconomy of many developing countries, because of the usage of this data in the preparation of risk analysis for the investments. Therefore the authorities of these countries are waiting for the results of these ratings and are even planning budgets depending on these positions.
Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His travel stories site is http://www.tripspirit.com