One day after Germany was named the world’s best country in a U.S. ranking, the German government responded to the news by pointing out the last challenges it now faces.
“Germany = Number 1!” the government proudly announced on Facebook, followed by the comment: “and in the categories ‘humor’ and ‘fashion’ we will also catch up.” The post was illustrated with a stereotypical photo of a man wearing white socks and sandals — a common German “tradition” that often is ridiculed by the country’s more style-conscious neighbors, including France.
The United States came in fourth in the ranking, which was conducted by the magazine U.S. News & World Report, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and global brand consultants BAV Consulting.
According to an analysis by the researchers, Germany’s prosperous economy, its brands, as well as soft power skills, among other factors, contributed to its top rank. Twenty-four categories were assessed for a total of 60 countries. More than 16,000 people participated in a survey.
