Which country does the most good? – Policy Advisor Simon Anholt

It’s an unexpected side effect of globalization: problems that once would have stayed local—say, a bank lending out too much money—now have consequences worldwide. But still, countries operate independently, as if alone on the planet. Policy advisor Simon Anholt has dreamed up an unusual scale to get governments thinking outwardly: The Good Country Index. In a riveting and funny talk, he answers the question, “Which country does the most good?” The answer may surprise you (especially if you live in the US or China).

Ultimately, that, I think, is what will make the change. That word, “good,” and the number 6.8 and the discovery that’s behind it have changed my life. I think they can change your life, and I think we can use it to change the way that our politicians and our companies behave, and in doing so, we can change the world. I’ve started thinking very differently about my own country since I’ve been thinking about these things. I used to think that I wanted to live in a rich country, and then I started thinking I wanted to live in a happy country, but I began to realize, it’s not enough. I don’t want to live in a rich country. I don’t want to live in a fast-growing or competitive country. I want to live in a good country, and I so, so hope that you do too.

Simon Anholt
Policy advisor
Simon Anholt helps national, regional and city governments earn better reputations—not by launching advertising or PR campaigns, but by changing the way they behave.
Why you should listen
“The only remaining superpower is international public opinion,” says Simon Anholt, an independent policy advisor who has helped more than 50 countries engage more productively with the rest of the world. He believes that public opinion cannot be shifted on the surface, but only moves when a government makes real changes in its values and behavior by rolling out enlightened policies, developing dynamic exchanges with other nations and committing to global betterment.

Simon Anholt has worked closely with heads of governments in countries ranging from the Netherlands to Botswana, from Jamaica to Malaysia. In his home country of the United Kingdom, he is a member of the Foreign Office Public Diplomacy Board and he frequently collaborates with multilateral institutions like the United Nations.

As a researcher, Anholt creates international surveys that inform policy. His latest project, The Good Country Index, is the first to measure exactly how much each country contributes to the planet and to humanity. He hopes this “national balance sheet” will inspire governments to operate less like independent islands and to think of themselves as highly interconnected, with ultimate responsibility to all the citizens of the world.

What others say
“Simon Anholt used 35 datasets, created by the United Nations, NGOs and other international agencies to track what countries offer, across seven categories. These include Science and Technology, Culture, International Peace and Security, World Order, Planet and Climate, Prosperity and Equality, and Health and Wellbeing.” — The Daily Mail


 

Source: http: ted.com

Author: Simon Anholt

Video source: TED / youtube

 

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"Don't let what other people think stop you from doing what you love." – Hitler