Germany is viewed as the best overall "brand"

Germany has been voted number one in a poll of 50 nation brands for its image as both comforting and cutting edge.

The following from the GfK Custom Research website:


Germany has moved up from 4th place since this index was started in 2005:



Well, hurrah for that!

...

We are no.1, we are no.1!

Do we get a prize for that? How about one month of no complaining about german supermarkets or german rudeness on TT...

Well probably not.

Best overall brand what? I don't understand what it means.

errr... click on the link dude.

It refers to how a country is perceived by others - to its image, if you like (read the article, it's explained about half way down).

Edit: Wot pike sez.

ok light dawns

Can't believe Japan is so far down, and tied with Italy.

Italy's brand name recognition is one of the few things that it still has going for it...

Hmmm, at the moment it says "Alitalia" and "Berlusconi" to me.

That's a knee jerk reaction to current events. The "Made in Italy" label still carries considerable weight around the world especially when it comes to gastronomy and design, from cars to clothing to furniture.

Actually, I'm not that surprised that Germany ranks as #1. As an American, I've been (pleasantly) amazed from my first trip here at how nice Germany really is. Since I travel a lot for work and sometimes with Germans (pus I greet a lot of foreign travelers here too) I've been aware for a while that germany has a good image.

go canada!!

I am not supprised as we know as soon as there are any real EU problems Germany will always look after itself and put its self first with no regard for the other members. We have just had this proved again with Germany doing its own thing with the banks. Its just shows what a waste of time and money the EU is.

So how does that put Germany at the top of a list of how countries are perceived internationally, exactly?

I'd be amazed if anyone has actually paid them for this bolleaux.

The 6 categories: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment are scored individually then averaged. What no weighting? Immigration and investment scored as one category, and culture and tourism as two categories? This all seems very pseudoscience to me and not worth the paper I wipe my bottom with.

"Within the top 10 most positively perceived countries, the ranking reveals a strong correlation between a nation’s overall brand and its economic status.” Hardly surprising since half the categories are about how countries make money - Exports, Tourism (actually counted twice because it is also an export) Investment.

Not very surprising that the worlds economically successful countries are perceived as culturally important since they get to spread their culture. Nothing wrong with that, but don't be surprised at the correlation in this sort of "Survey"

What they don't say is why the correlation between economic status and brand perception doesn't hold good outside the top 10. Perhaps its because they measured the whole thing wrongly, but that is the whole point of Form-over-substance reports like this.

Rant over

I'm surprised the US isn't lower, given our reputation for bombing most of the (un)civilized world the past seven years. But it seems people all over the world consume American movies, music, television, and fashion. Not that I think it's a good thing...for some reason it seems like the worst of what the US has to offer is what ends up getting exported (if I see another German teenager with a Sean John sweater and sideways Yankee hat I'm going to punch him).

Related article on brandchannel.com - Rating Nation Brands: What Really Counts?

Unfortuantaley, nothing will stop some of the whingeing TT's compalining about their host nation...Love it or Leave it, I say

Comforting?

They've never ridden on DB more than once then...LOL