Denmark world's 2nd most peaceful country

Denmark has been rated world's 2nd most peaceful country, retaining the same position as last year, together with Norway, out of 144 independent states in the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2009, released by an Australian-based research group that counts former President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner and Dalai Lama among its endorsers. The news is widely reported in the media.

 

New Zealand takes top position followed by Denmark (2) and Norway (2), Iceland (4), Austria (5), Sweden (6), Japan (7), Canada (8), Finland (9) and Slovenia (9).

 

The Index defines peace as 'the absence of violence' and looks at 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from respected sources, which combine internal and external factors ranging from a nation’s level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and the level of respect for human rights.

 

Clyde McConaghy, president of the GPI from the Institute for Economics and Peace, a new think tank that produces the Index said in a press release:

 

"Peace is a concrete aim that can be measured and valued, not just in social terms but in economic terms. There is a clear correlation between the economic crisis and the decline in peace. This confirms that there is a real-world economic value for peace. It creates an environment where it is easier for workers to produce, business to sell, entrepreneurs and scientists to innovate and governments to regulate, and that in turn creates wealth."

 

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