<p>My understanding of this chart is based on the <a href="https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/userfiles/file/reportpdf/gii-full-report-2015-v6.pdf" rel="nofollow">Global Innovation Index 2015</a> report. Definitions are not explicit however. </p>

<p>They compute an Innovation Efficiency Ratio as the ratio of the "Output Sub-Index" score  over the "Input Sub-Index" score (definitions of these scores are presented in Figure 1). It is designed to assess the effectiveness of innovation systems and policies. In other words, this ratio shows how much innovation output a given country is getting for its inputs. Based on Table 1, all the countries with a ratio over the median (.71) appear to be considered as "efficient innovators". </p>

<p>For instance, Angola and Côte d'Ivoire do not show significant innovation input and  output  results,  yet  their  efficiency ratios appear high because their outputs outweigh their inputs on a low level.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-12T04:51:26.110Z
2016-06-12T04:51:26.110Z
emeryville
<p>I have been reading through <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/09/global-innovation-rankings?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/ed/theinnovationgame" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a> about Innovation Indexes.</p>

<p>In this, I have come across the terms: "Efficient Innovators" and "Inefficient Innovators" in this plot:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Va9Y0.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Va9Y0.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, what do they mean? And how are they calculated/determined?</p>

<definition><innovation>
What does efficient and inefficient innovators mean?
Dawny33
# What does efficient and inefficient innovators mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-12)

I have been reading through [this article](http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/09/global-innovation-rankings?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/ed/theinnovationgame) about Innovation Indexes.

In this, I have come across the terms: "Efficient Innovators" and "Inefficient Innovators" in this plot:

> [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Va9Y0.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Va9Y0.png)

So, what do they mean? And how are they calculated/determined?

**Tags:** definition, innovation

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

My understanding of this chart is based on the [Global Innovation Index 2015](https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/userfiles/file/reportpdf/gii-full-report-2015-v6.pdf) report. Definitions are not explicit however.

They compute an Innovation Efficiency Ratio as the ratio of the "Output Sub-Index" score over the "Input Sub-Index" score (definitions of these scores are presented in Figure 1). It is designed to assess the effectiveness of innovation systems and policies. In other words, this ratio shows how much innovation output a given country is getting for its inputs. Based on Table 1, all the countries with a ratio over the median (.71) appear to be considered as "efficient innovators".

For instance, Angola and Côte d'Ivoire do not show significant innovation input and output results, yet their efficiency ratios appear high because their outputs outweigh their inputs on a low level.


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