Beyond Cost 2024

Cover: Getty Images Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other stakeholders. © 2024 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system.Contents Foreword 3 Executive summary 4 Introduction 5 1 Country archetypes and macro-dynamic trends 6 1.1 Mapping manufacturing’s role in economic growth: four country archetypes 6 1.2 Macro-dynamic and foreign direct investment confidence shifts 7 2 A proactive approach to balancing readiness factors 9 2.1 Infrastructure 10 2.2 Resources and energy 12 2.3 Technology 14 2.4 Labour and skills 16 2.5 Fiscal and regulatory 18 2.6 Geopolitical landscape 20 2.7 Environmental, social and governance 22 3 The role of public sector investment 24 Conclusion 25 Appendices 26 A1 Indices underpinning the seven readiness factors 26 A2 Methodology for country readiness factor analysis 30 Contributors 31 Endnotes 34 Beyond Cost: Country Readiness for the Future of Manufacturing and Supply Chains 2