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Why Are American Managers the Best in the World?

A study by professors at Harvard Business School, Stanford, and the London School of Economics has deemed American business managers the best in the world. According to the study, the United States owes its win to ruthlessness and flexible labor markets. The details paint an interesting picture of the highs and lows of global business including the fact that some European countries rank similarly to developing countries when it comes to management.

After ten years, and a survey of 10,000 companies in 20 different countries, professors from Harvard Business School, Stanford, London School of Economics, and McKinsey & Company have concluded that companies in the United States have the most successful business managers.  The top countries are as follows:

  1. United States
  2. Japan
  3. Germany
  4. Sweden

The Harvard Business Review and CBS’s BNet cover the findings of the World Management Survey. Many European countries comprised the middle of the pack: France, Italy and the UK.  At the bottom of the list were developing countries like Brazil, China, and India.  Surprisingly, however, some southern European countries fared only slightly better than developing countries.  Brazil and Greece only closely outperformed Brazil, China, and India.

It seems that the United States’ relaxed labor policies are what put them ahead of the game.  Because managers are able to hire and fire employees more easily, they are able to create the best working environment.  Companies are comprised of the right mix of people in the correct positions.

And, in addition to hiring (or firing) the right people, the US has better human capital.  More Americans get into college than any other nation, and so the quality of workers is higher than elsewhere.

The United States is also highly competitive and only the most successful companies can thrive in the large and open market.

Read: Why American Managers Are the Best in the World

Read: Why American Management Rules the World

Read: World Management Survey

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