News
Our analysts translate scores into stories. From geopolitical shifts to elite leadership changes, EQx Insights connect the numbers to the real world.
Argentina should move from 104th place into the global top 30
Tomas Casas i Klett argues that Argentina, with exceptional human capital and abundant natural resources but average growth of 0.2% over the past decade, belongs in the EQx top 30. The post reports the "Repensar Argentina" debate at the Malba and calls for stronger "islands of excellence", reliable institutions and an "Agreement on Fundamentals" that rewards value creation over rent-seeking.
"Rethinking Argentina: the challenge of Argentine development", a reflective debate on local elites based on a Swiss university study
Experts and business leaders discussed Argentina's 104th place in EQx2026 at the Malba, where the University of St. Gallen presented the country chapter. Tomas Casas i Klett pointed to weak elite cohesion and investment, while speakers called for institutional consensus, greater scientific funding and a coalition able to replace rent extraction with sustainable value creation.
Scientists, political scientists and diplomats took part in a debate on Argentine development
Rafael Grossi, Rodrigo Zarazaga, Raquel Chan and Tomas Casas i Klett examined Argentina's unrealized potential. They pointed to investment, institutional consensus, science–industry cooperation and value-creating elites as the conditions for overcoming recurring crises and improving the country's EQx position.
What are our Elites worth?
The article explains how EQx distinguishes value-creating elites from rent-seeking elites and examines the relationship between power and value. Portugal performs better in economic value creation than in political value creation.
Launch of the "Elite Quality Index" 2026
SMS Latinoamérica announces "Repensar Argentina 2026", featuring Tomas Casas i Klett and Pablo San Martín. The event examines Argentina's fall to 104th place and the reforms needed to turn elite power into sustainable value creation.
Argentina fell 18 places in a global ranking of elite quality and is one of the lowest in the region
Argentina fell 18 places to 104th in EQx2026. Its elites retain significant political and economic power but fail to convert it into sustained prosperity. Inflation, weak investment, protectionism, educational shortcomings and brain drain contribute to poor value creation.
Argentina's elites "extract value but destroy the future": the harsh diagnosis of a global report
Argentina's elites possess considerable power but largely extract rather than create value. The article describes "hegemonic stagnation", in which rent-seeking and short-term appropriation undermine economic development and the country's long-term prospects.
Argentina falls in the "elite quality" ranking
Argentina dropped from 70th to 86th among 151 countries. The article emphasizes the EQx distinction between elite influence and value creation, and notes that Argentine policymaking frequently prioritizes short-term objectives.
The "casta", as of March: Argentina falls 16 places in the "elite quality" ranking
Argentina fell 16 places to 86th in EQx2025. Its elites retain substantial influence but struggle to transform power into sustainable value creation, reflecting short-term policies, weak investment and persistent rent-seeking.
Philippines improves in Elite Quality Index
The Philippines climbed one place to 50th among 151 countries, scoring 52.0. The infographic explains that EQx evaluates whether elite business models generate value for society or engage in rent-seeking.
Singapore tops elite quality index for 6th time in 7 years, faces challenges from deglobalisation
Singapore retains first place with a score of 65.6, but deglobalization and supply-chain fragmentation threaten its internationally oriented model. New AI indicators helped propel the United States from 16th to second place.
Switzerland takes third place in Elite Quality Index 2025
Switzerland ranks third, supported by transparent, decentralized and accountable institutions. EQx still identifies concerns about economic-power concentration, insufficient creative destruction and the underrepresentation of women in leadership.
Morocco moves up in ranking of elite quality, but struggles remain on fairness and innovation
Morocco rose four places to 87th, with stronger elite power but weaker value creation. Persistent challenges include unequal opportunities, limited innovation and AI capacity, and poor environmental performance.
Elite Quality Index 2025: U.S.A. rises to No. 2 through AI value creation while Asia advances
EQx2025 ranks 151 countries using 149 indicators. AI-driven value creation lifts the United States from 16th to second, while several Asian economies advance. Europe performs strongly on intergenerational value creation but shows weaker present-day competitiveness.
Portugal slips in elite quality but makes progress on debt
Portugal fell five places to 30th in EQx2025 despite improvements in public-debt indicators. Weak productivity, talent loss and limited investment in innovation continue to restrict sustainable value creation.
Portugal sinks in the world "ranking" of elite quality
Portugal fell five positions to 30th, matching its weakest previous ranking. The decline is linked to talent loss, weak labor-productivity growth and difficulty attracting investment in technologies essential to innovation.