The chart shows the logarithms of the two variables, GDP per capita on the X-axis, and the GII (global innovation index, represented by the blue dots) on the Y-axis, revealing a strong linear association (the regression line in red) of GII and GDP per capita for the 141 countries under consideration. The choice of the logarithm transformation is justified by the greater simplicity of the line of fit — the red straight line —, compared to the curve that the original information would produce, and by the possibility to further understand the information behind the data by looking at the residuals.
Compared to the precedent year's ranking, the correlation coefficient (r = 0.87) shows a stronger association between the two variables, confirmed by the also higher determination coefficient (R² = 0.75) indicating that 75% of the variation of the innovation index is explained by the variation of the GDP per capita. The higher coefficients are likely explained by the larger sample of countries included in the survey.
As noted in the comment to the ranking chart, high innovation indexes emerge in countries that enjoy higher GDP per capita : as the latter grows by 100 units, the innovation index climbs 18 (slope measured from the logarithms; the slope of the corresponding raw values is 0.1%). However, this does not tell the full story, otherwise the data dots would coincide exactly with the straight line, which is not the case.
The analysis of residuals — a residual being the difference between the actual innovation score and the corresponding value of the line of fit — shows some exceptions to the rule. A set of countries score higher on innovation than what their GDP per capita would entitle them to. In descending order the top ten are : Moldova, Estonia, Serbia, China, India, Malta, Mongolia, Viet Nam, Switzerland and Ukraine. Six among these countries have GDP per capita below 50% of the median (Moldova, Serbia, India, Mongolia, Viet Nam and Ukraine). It is thus established that comparatively poor economies may succeed in achieving relatively high innovation scores.
At the opposite end, residuals expose the poor innovation performance of countries whose GDP entitlement should justify higher scores. Such countries as Qatar, Uruguay, Brunei Darussalam, Greece, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, and Kuwait are among the 21 lowest innovation performers, although they enjoy GDP per capita that are 4 to 13 multiples of the median.
GII (Global Innovation Index) 2012 | ||||||
Country |
Income Group |
Rank |
Index 2012 |
GDP per capita¹ |
||
Score | Logarithm | $US thousand (2000=100) | Logarithm | |||
Albania | UM | 90 | 30.4 | 3.4 | 1,966 | 7.6 |
Algeria | UM | 124 | 24.4 | 3.2 | 2,255 | 7.7 |
Angola | LM | 135 | 22.2 | 3.1 | 1,377 | 7.2 |
Argentina | UM | 70 | 34.4 | 3.5 | 11,602 | 9.4 |
Armenia | LM | 69 | 34.5 | 3.5 | 1,384 | 7.2 |
Australia | HI | 23 | 51.9 | 3.9 | 25,351 | 10.1 |
Austria | HI | 22 | 53.1 | 4.0 | 27,428 | 10.2 |
Azerbaijan | UM | 89 | 30.4 | 3.4 | 2,339 | 7.8 |
Bahrain | HI | 41 | 41.1 | 3.7 | 11,236² | 9.3 |
Bangladesh | LI | 112 | 26.1 | 3.3 | 588 | 6.4 |
Belarus | UM | 78 | 32.9 | 3.5 | 2,890 | 8.0 |
Belgium | HI | 20 | 54.3 | 4.0 | 24,734 | 10.1 |
Belize | LM | 80 | 32.5 | 3.5 | 3,494 | 8.2 |
Benin | LI | 125 | 24.4 | 3.2 | 378 | 5.9 |
Bolivia | LM | 114 | 25.8 | 3.3 | 1,275 | 7.2 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina | UM | 72 | 34.2 | 3.5 | 2,225 | 7.7 |
Botswana | UM | 85 | 31.4 | 3.4 | 4,350 | 8.4 |
Brazil | UM | 58 | 36.6 | 3.6 | 4,803 | 8.5 |
Brunei Darussalam | HI | 53 | 37.7 | 3.6 | 17,225² | 9.8 |
Bulgaria | UM | 43 | 40.7 | 3.7 | 2,618 | 7.9 |
Burkina Faso | LI | 122 | 24.6 | 3.2 | 286 | 5.7 |
Burundi | LI | 137 | 20.5 | 3.0 | 141 | 4.9 |
Cambodia | LI | 129 | 23.4 | 3.2 | 590 | 6.4 |
Cameroon | LM | 121 | 25 | 3.2 | 725 | 6.6 |
Canada | HI | 12 | 56.9 | 4.0 | 25,933 | 10.2 |
Chile | UM | 39 | 42.7 | 3.8 | 6,754 | 8.8 |
China | UM | 34 | 45.4 | 3.8 | 2,635 | 7.9 |
Colombia | UM | 65 | 35.5 | 3.6 | 3,379 | 8.1 |
Costa Rica | UM | 60 | 36.3 | 3.6 | 5,366 | 8.6 |
Côte d'Ivoire | LM | 134 | 22.6 | 3.1 | 549 | 6.3 |
Croatia | HI | 42 | 40.7 | 3.7 | 6,352 | 8.8 |
Cyprus | HI | 28 | 47.9 | 3.9 | 15,378 | 9.6 |
Czech Republic | HI | 27 | 49.7 | 3.9 | 7,912 | 9.0 |
Denmark | HI | 7 | 59.9 | 4.1 | 30,687 | 10.3 |
Dominican Republic | UM | 86 | 30.9 | 3.4 | 4,176 | 8.3 |
Ecuador | UM | 98 | 28.5 | 3.3 | 1,786 | 7.5 |
Egypt | LM | 103 | 27.9 | 3.3 | 1,977 | 7.6 |
El Salvador | LM | 93 | 29.5 | 3.4 | 2,579 | 7.9 |
Estonia | HI | 19 | 55.3 | 4.0 | 6,438 | 8.8 |
Ethiopia | LI | 131 | 23.3 | 3.1 | 232 | 5.4 |
Fiji | LM | 101 | 27.9 | 3.3 | 2,242 | 7.7 |
Finland | HI | 4 | 61.8 | 4.1 | 27,766 | 10.2 |
France | HI | 24 | 51.8 | 3.9 | 23,017 | 10.0 |
Gabon | UM | 106 | 26.5 | 3.3 | 4,334 | 8.4 |
Gambia | LI | 130 | 23.3 | 3.1 | 719 | 6.6 |
Georgia | LM | 71 | 34.3 | 3.5 | 1,335 | 7.2 |
Germany | HI | 15 | 56.2 | 4.0 | 26,081 | 10.2 |
Ghana | LM | 92 | 29.6 | 3.4 | 402 | 6.0 |
Greece | HI | 66 | 35.3 | 3.6 | 12,653 | 9.4 |
Guatemala | LM | 99 | 28.4 | 3.3 | 1,886 | 7.5 |
Guyana | LM | 77 | 33.7 | 3.5 | 1,211² | 7.1 |
Honduras | LM | 111 | 26.3 | 3.3 | 1,411 | 7.3 |
Hong Kong | HI | 8 | 58.7 | 4.1 | 37,352 | 10.5 |
Hungary | HI | 31 | 46.5 | 3.8 | 5,746 | 8.7 |
Iceland | HI | 18 | 55.7 | 4.0 | 34,812 | 10.5 |
India | LM | 64 | 35.7 | 3.6 | 838 | 6.7 |
Indonesia | LM | 100 | 28.1 | 3.3 | 1,207 | 7.1 |
Iran | UM | 104 | 27.3 | 3.3 | 2,162³ | 7.7 |
Ireland | HI | 9 | 58.7 | 4.1 | 27,329 | 10.2 |
Israel | HI | 17 | 56 | 4.0 | 22,860 | 10.0 |
Italy | HI | 36 | 44.5 | 3.8 | 18,935 | 9.8 |
Jamaica | UM | 91 | 30.2 | 3.4 | 3,664 | 8.2 |
Japan | HI | 25 | 51.7 | 3.9 | 39,578 | 10.6 |
Jordan | UM | 56 | 37.1 | 3.6 | 2,589 | 7.9 |
Kazakhstan | UM | 83 | 31.9 | 3.5 | 2,630 | 7.9 |
Kenya | LI | 96 | 28.9 | 3.4 | 477 | 6.2 |
Korea, Rep. | HI | 21 | 53.9 | 4.0 | 16,684 | 9.7 |
Kuwait | HI | 55 | 37.2 | 3.6 | 24,286 | 10.1 |
Kyrgyzstan | LI | 109 | 26.4 | 3.3 | 395 | 6.0 |
Lao | LM | 138 | 20.2 | 3.0 | 592 | 6.4 |
Latvia | UM | 30 | 47 | 3.9 | 5,331 | 8.6 |
Lebanon | UM | 61 | 36.2 | 3.6 | 6,896 | 8.8 |
Lesotho | LM | 116 | 25.7 | 3.2 | 519 | 6.3 |
Lithuania | UM | 38 | 44 | 3.8 | 5,793 | 8.7 |
Luxembourg | HI | 11 | 57.7 | 4.1 | 52,086 | 10.9 |
Macedonia, FYR | UM | 62 | 36.2 | 3.6 | 2,284 | 7.7 |
Madagascar | LI | 126 | 24.2 | 3.2 | 238 | 5.5 |
Malawi | LI | 120 | 25.4 | 3.2 | 187 | 5.2 |
Malaysia | UM | 32 | 45.9 | 3.8 | 5,365 | 8.6 |
Mali | LI | 119 | 25.4 | 3.2 | 272 | 5.6 |
Malta | HI | 16 | 56.1 | 4.0 | 11,214 | 9.3 |
Mauritius | UM | 49 | 39.2 | 3.7 | 5,372 | 8.6 |
Mexico | UM | 79 | 32.9 | 3.5 | 6,270 | 8.7 |
Moldova | LM | 50 | 39.2 | 3.7 | 635 | 6.5 |
Mongolia | LM | 68 | 35 | 3.6 | 892 | 6.8 |
Montenegro | UM | 45 | 40.1 | 3.7 | 2,278 | 7.7 |
Morocco | LM | 88 | 30.7 | 3.4 | 1,908 | 7.6 |
Mozambique | LI | 110 | 26.3 | 3.3 | 402 | 6.0 |
Namibia | UM | 73 | 34.1 | 3.5 | 2,749 | 7.9 |
Nepal | LI | 113 | 26 | 3.3 | 275 | 5.6 |
Netherlands | HI | 6 | 60.5 | 4.1 | 26,735 | 10.2 |
New Zealand | HI | 13 | 56.6 | 4.0 | 14,880² | 9.6 |
Nicaragua | LM | 105 | 26.7 | 3.3 | 936 | 6.8 |
Niger | LI | 140 | 18.6 | 2.9 | 177 | 5.2 |
Nigeria | LM | 123 | 24.6 | 3.2 | 562 | 6.3 |
Norway | HI | 14 | 56.4 | 4.0 | 40,035 | 10.6 |
Oman | HI | 47 | 39.5 | 3.7 | 11,701 | 9.4 |
Pakistan | LM | 133 | 23.1 | 3.1 | 672 | 6.5 |
Panama | UM | 87 | 30.9 | 3.4 | 6,654 | 8.8 |
Paraguay | LM | 84 | 31.6 | 3.5 | 1,657 | 7.4 |
Peru | UM | 75 | 34.1 | 3.5 | 3,364 | 8.1 |
Philippines | LM | 95 | 29 | 3.4 | 1,411 | 7.3 |
Poland | HI | 44 | 40.4 | 3.7 | 6,854 | 8.8 |
Portugal | HI | 35 | 45.3 | 3.8 | 11,559 | 9.4 |
Qatar | HI | 33 | 45.5 | 3.8 | 36,153 | 10.5 |
Romania | UM | 52 | 37.8 | 3.6 | 2,633 | 7.9 |
Russia | UM | 51 | 37.9 | 3.6 | 3,052 | 8.0 |
Rwanda | LI | 102 | 27.9 | 3.3 | 356 | 5.9 |
Saudi Arabia | HI | 48 | 39.3 | 3.7 | 9,914 | 9.2 |
Senegal | LM | 97 | 28.8 | 3.4 | 561 | 6.3 |
Serbia | UM | 46 | 40 | 3.7 | 1,221 | 7.1 |
Singapore | HI | 3 | 63.5 | 4.2 | 33,530 | 10.4 |
Slovakia | HI | 40 | 41.4 | 3.7 | 8,694 | 9.1 |
Slovenia | HI | 26 | 49.9 | 3.9 | 12,689 | 9.4 |
South Africa | UM | 54 | 37.4 | 3.6 | 3,825 | 8.2 |
Spain | HI | 29 | 47.2 | 3.9 | 15,512 | 9.6 |
Sri Lanka | LM | 94 | 29.1 | 3.4 | 1,402 | 7.2 |
Sudan | LM | 141 | 16.8 | 2.8 | 486 | 6.2 |
Swaziland | LM | 82 | 32 | 3.5 | 1,814 | 7.5 |
Sweden | HI | 2 | 64.8 | 4.2 | 33,513 | 10.4 |
Switzerland | HI | 1 | 68.2 | 4.2 | 38,060 | 10.5 |
Syria | LM | 132 | 23.1 | 3.1 | 1,526² | 7.3 |
Tajikistan | LI | 108 | 26.4 | 3.3 | 295 | 5.7 |
Tanzania | LI | 128 | 23.9 | 3.2 | 473 | 6.2 |
Thailand | UM | 57 | 36.9 | 3.6 | 2,698 | 7.9 |
Togo | LI | 136 | 20.5 | 3.0 | 269 | 5.6 |
Trinidad &Tobago | HI | 81 | 32.5 | 3.5 | 10,329 | 9.2 |
Tunisia | UM | 59 | 36.5 | 3.6 | 3,051 | 8.0 |
Turkey | UM | 74 | 34.1 | 3.5 | 5,741 | 8.7 |
Uganda | LI | 117 | 25.6 | 3.2 | 393 | 6.0 |
Ukraine | LM | 63 | 36.1 | 3.6 | 1,094 | 7.0 |
United Arab Emirates | HI | 37 | 44.4 | 3.8 | 21,058 | 10.0 |
United Kingdom | HI | 5 | 61.2 | 4.1 | 28,033 | 10.2 |
United States | HI | 10 | 57.7 | 4.1 | 37,691 | 10.5 |
Uruguay | UM | 67 | 35.1 | 3.6 | 9,581 | 9.2 |
Uzbekistan | LM | 127 | 23.9 | 3.2 | 993 | 6.9 |
Venezuela | UM | 118 | 25.4 | 3.2 | 5,672 | 8.6 |
Viet Nam | LM | 76 | 33.9 | 3.5 | 757 | 6.6 |
Yemen | LM | 139 | 19.2 | 3.0 | 528 | 6.3 |
Zambia | LM | 107 | 26.4 | 3.3 | 439 | 6.1 |
Zimbabwe | LI | 115 | 25.7 | 3.2 | 346 | 5.8 |
Correlation coefficient r | 0.87 | |||||
Determination coefficient R² | 0.75 | |||||
Slope | 0.18 | |||||
¹ Latest available World Bank data for 2011. | ||||||
² Latest available World Bank data for 2010. | ||||||
³ Latest available World Bank data for 2009. |
Sources: INSEAD - WIPO for the innovation index, and World DataBank – The World Bank for GDP per capita.