Measuring Elite Quality:
Country Scores & Global Rank

The Elite Quality Index (EQx) is a comparative, international measurement of Elites.

EQx is a political economy index that measures the ability of the elite business models in a country – on aggregate – to create value, rather than to extract value.

Elites: What, Why, How

Elites are narrow, coordinated groups with business models that successfully accumulate wealth; they are an empirical inevitability and exist in every society on earth.

Elites provide critical coordination capacity for the economy’s resources, whether human, financial or knowledge-based. By shaping institutions that enable coordination, elites determine human and economic development, the wealth of nations, as well as their rise and fall.

We present the first ever international measurement of Elite Quality. However, EQx does not measure elites directly; instead, it assesses the actual  degree of value creation of their business models as reflected in macro and micro data-sets. We believe that the more value-creation and less rent seeking take place, the higher the levels of inclusive economic and human development the nation will achieve in the future.

Elite Quality & Society

The Elite Quality Index seeks to provoke a constructive, evidence-based public discussion on elites, and how national elites contribute (or not) to society.

EQx is, at the same time, an analytical framework for business leaders, top policy makers and politicians around the world whom are willing to guide national agendas towards institutional advancement by incentivizing value creation, rather than rent seeking business models.

Are there Elite Quality Differences between Nations?

Yes.
EQx is a global comparative index.

Elite Quality

The degree to which the business models of elites in a country – on aggregate – create value.

High EQx Country Score

Countries scoring comparatively high in the EQx have elites that create more value than they capture. Such countries increase the economic pie and can expect higher levels of economic and human development. 
Countries with low EQx have elites that capture more value than they create. Such elites increase their slice of the pie rather than the pie. Their countries will see more extractive institutions and see less inclusive development.

EQx2023 Snapshots

Get your full EQx2023 Report

To discover more
about our work on
elites or to contribute
to the Index,
please contact us.

To develop your country’s strategies to “grow the pie” or to become a benefactor of the Foundation for Value Creation (FVC).

Are you an institution interested in researching, developing and managing a country for EQx?

Research contributions

Do you want to join our academic projects, or propose research ideas?

FAQ

Dozens of questions & answers about our project and on Elite Quality in general​​