Brazil famously has a first-world rate of government spending but third-world public services.

ECONOMIST: Rethinking the welfare state

Add to that a low Australian dollar, excellent food and wine, friendly and easy-going people who do not sneer at tourists, because they travel themselves, first-world health and safety standards and a low crime rate, and the place sounds irresistible.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Australia

Schmidt is a first-rate tactician but new to McCain's world, and he still shares power with Black and Davis.

CNN: Commentary: McCain campaign following in Hillary's footsteps

The World Bank has an economic research section that each year turns out a first-rate book called Doing Business, which surveys 175 economies on everything from how many licenses you need to start a business to enforcing contracts to securities transparency.

FORBES: Magazine Article

After growing at an annual rate of more than 6% in the first quarter, output in the world's second-biggest economy edged up by just 0.3% in the third.

ECONOMIST: Brutal, in every sense | The