The KOF Index of Globalization
The KOF Index of Globalization measures the three main dimensions of globalization:
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economic
social
and political.
In addition to three indices measuring these dimensions, we calculate an overall index of globalization and subindices referring to
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actual economic flows
economic restrictions
data on information flows
data on personal contact
data on cultural proximity.
Data are available on a yearly basis for 158 countries over the period 1970 - 2006.
The following website shows an animated map showing changes since 1970.
http://globalization.kof.ethz.ch/static/maps/index_animation.gif
KOF Index of Globalisation 2009
According to the KOF Index of Globalisation 2009, Belgium and Ireland are the world's most globalised countries –
Switzerland ranks 4 (last year: rank 3). The KOF Index of Globalisation 2009 shows that globalisation is still on the
rise, driven by increased economic and political globalisation, while social globalisation stagnates.
The KOF Index of Globalisation measures the economic, social and political dimensions of globalisation. The index
allows comparing degree and changes in globalisation over a large number of countries and more than 30 years:
The KOF Index of Globalisation 2009 is available for 158 countries over the period 1970–2006, and is calculated on
the basis of 24 variables.
The method employed in the calculations allows direct comparison of a specific country's degree of globalisation
over time. The economic dimension of the KOF Index measures long distance flows of goods, capital and services
as well as information and perceptions that accompany market exchanges. In addition to actual flows of trade and
foreign investment, it captures the degree to which a specific country restricts capital and trade flows. The social
dimension measures the spread of ideas, information, images, and people, while the political dimension captures
diffusion of government policies.
Chart 1 shows how globalisation has developed over time – measured by the average of the individual country
indices: The degree of globalisation has been increasing since the 1970s, particularly since the 1990s according to
all three dimensions of globalisation. Social globalisation, however, has been stagnating since 2001. According to
charts 2 and 3, the development for the overall index has mostly been independent of income and region, even
though the degree of globalisation differs to a large extent. The charts show in particular that globalisation is most
prevalent in Western, high income countries. There, however, the process of globalisation practically came to a
halt in 2001.
Country Rankings
Use the KOF website to find out the top 10 most globalised countries and the 10 least globalised countries. (Look
at the most recent press release on the right of the screen)
http://globalization.kof.ethz.ch/