Global Peace Index: $1.8 trillion could be saved with just a 25% decrease in global violence.

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The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks countries based on a variety of different indicators (internal and external factors), including relation with neighboring countries and political expenditure. This year's GPI can be found at www.visionofhumanity.org.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks 149 independent states based on 23 qualitative and quantatative indicators which combines internal and external factors. These factors range from nation’s level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring … see full wiki

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Interesting takeaways from the 2010 Global Peace Index

Jun 9, 2010

by SydneyFCG
posted in Search for Common Ground Community

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The 2010 results are notable for their ability to look at changes in peace over time. The 149 countries included in the study are ranked on peacefulness based on 20 indicators level of organized conflict, relations with neighboring countries and level of distrust in other citizens. The results suggested that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the last four years. Since 2007, only the following four indicators have shown overall improvement:

Ease of access to weapons of minor destruction
Potential for terrorist acts
Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP
Respect for human rights

The Rankings
New Zealand took top honors but the Scandinavian countries had the best regional showing, all ranking in the top 10 for peacefulness. An interesting fact, the top three countries in the index are islands. Although Sub-Saharan Africa remains the least peaceful region, it was one of only two regions (along with the Middle East & North Africa) to show improvements in peacefulness. Two countries where SFCG works, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire, along with Uganda, showed the biggest improvements towards peacefulness within the region. The United States was ranked 85; it had a medium state of peace, around the same level as China and Serbia. Perhaps not surprisingly, Iraq was ranked lowest with Somalia and Afghanistan scoring only marginally higher. Two of the countries SFCG works in (DRC and Israel) also made the bottom 10.

Some quick takeaways:

9 Habits of Peaceful Societies:

Well functioning government
Sound business environment
Respectful of human rights and tolerance
Good relations with neighboring states
High levels of freedom of information
Acceptance of others
High participation rates in primary and secondary education
Low levels of corruption
Equitable sharing of resources

Peace Pays:

From 2006-2009 the total economic impact of the cessation of violence could have been US$ 28.2 trillion
Reducing global violence by 25% would have yielded an annual US$1.85 trillion in additional or redirected economic activities
As the world’s largest economy, the United States’ potential dynamic peace dividend for 2009 was in excess of US$1 trillion (approximately 7% of actual US GDP)
Countries with a high per capita income, large GDPs and lower levels of peacefulness have the largest possible gains in absolute terms. This I highly relevant for multi-national corporation who have an interest in tapping into the peace dividend
If the world were 25% more peaceful this would have achieved an additional $1.85 trillion which would be redirected to other activities. For example, if the G20 countries were to pay 0.7 of their GDP to meet the Millennium Development Goals, then the savings in one year alone could fun MDG commitments for six years!

Check out the website and play around with looking at how peacefulness has changed over the past four years. You can also look at the world map according to indicator. Some of the results are pretty surprising.

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