Argentina scored a mid-range 5.0. Its relative performance over the last year has been dismal. Its five-year performance has not been much better. The Argentina market had a high in mid 1994 and then fell to a low in 1995 (page D-1). It has recently broken out to the upside from a two-year symmetrical triangle pattern.

Argentina’s score was helped by a change to more political freedom, no corporate capital gains tax rate, and a 1.5% individual capital gains tax rate. There is little else to commend Argentina. Argentina suffers from an 18.8% unemployment rate. It has a very low economic risk score.

Although the technical pattern is positive with a recent positive breakout from a coil, there is no compelling fundamental argument to invest in Argentina.

Australia scored a 6.7, a tie with the United States and France for seventh place. It relative strength continues in a downtrend. The First Australia Fund (Page D-2) has been in a trading range for about ten years. It is currently at an apex of an asymmetric triangle.

Australia scored well on most aspects. It has a respectable educational level and numbers of scientists and engineers, low inflation, no corporate capital gains tax, and a 1.5% individual capital gains tax.

Australia’s GDP growth rate is a moderate to low 3.0. The export growth rate is 7.9%.

Australia seems to be a solid performer. The lackluster performance of its market over the last five years indicates that there may be some opportunities to buy individual companies on a valuation basis. The technical pattern indicates that the First Australia Fund is a candidate for a breakout from a multi year coil. The current price is $8.62. The support level is at $7.50. Resistance levels are at $9.50 and $11.00.

Austria scored a good 6.6. Its 1 year and 5 year relative strength has been moderate. The Austria Fund is down significantly from 1990 but shows a gradual and orderly rise since early 1995. The rise has been anemic and has not matched the rise in the S&P 500. The relative strength continues in a downtrend.

Austria has scores well most cultural and investment aspects; however it is a mature country with high tax rates resulting in low GDP and export growth.

I see no compelling reason to invest in Austria.

Belgium has a long history as a highly industrialized nation. Its textile industry dates from the Middle Ages.

Belgium scored a good 6.5. Its one-year and five-year relative strengths have been respectable. The performance of its WEBS (Page E-3) indicates a rising pattern over the last year but it has under-performed the S&P 500.

Belgium scored well on most aspects. Its growth rate suffers from high income taxes and high value added taxes. It is however one of the countries without capital gains taxes. Although it does not show up in the scores, this nation of about 10 million people has three official languages, Dutch, French, and German, which is spoken dependent on the area of the country. This has to be a drawback.

From a valuation standpoint there may be some investment opportunities in Belgium. In general, Belgium is a mature country with high tax rates and slow growth.

Brazil has had a history of runaway inflation and large foreign debts. An economic recovery plan instituted by a popular president, Henrique Cardoso, seems to be getting the inflation under control. The foreign debt was restructured and reduced in an agreement with lenders in April 1994.

Brazil scored a low 3.0. Its relative performance has been good over the last year and fairly good over the last five years. I believe that this is a result of the economic recovery plan coupled with the fact that valuations were very low previously. In addition, Brazil is privatizing a lot of industry, which is creating attractive investment opportunities. The Brazil Fund (Page D-4) shows an uptrend since 1988 with a positive breakout in early 1997 from a two year descending triangle. The relative strength has been primarily sideways since 1988.

Generally all the individual scores were low or medium. Brazil scored exceptionally low on political and economic risk.

The investment opportunity here comes from the changes resulting from the economic recovery program and from privatization. Privatization creates opportunities because government owned companies are generally run very inefficiently. Once these companies are in private hands with profit making objectives, they become more efficient which results in strong earnings growth. The Financial Times had a special supplement on Brazil on June 10, 1997. This supplement included a list of companies that are to be privatized.

There is significant risk of currency devaluation. Brazil has very little reserves and would probably succumb very quickly to attacks on the currency. The history of the Brazil Fund over the last ten years indicates that the performance of the Brazilian stock market has not been negatively impacted by currency problems.

Brazil looks like a good bet to me for the intermediate term, one to five years. Brazil is getting its economy under control. It is creating investment opportunities by privatizing industry. The market has been in an up trend for ten years with a two-year decline arrested in 1997. The Brazil Fund is currently valued under its 1994 peak.

Our neighbor to the North has about the same landmass as the U.S. but a tenth of the population. The land is endowed with many natural resources. It is not generally hospitable to agriculture.

Canada scored a respectable 6.4. Its one-year and five-year relative strengths have also been respectable. The Fidelity Canada Fund (Page D-5) has been in an uptrend since 1988. The relative strength matched the S&P 500 until late 1993, at which time the S&P 500 started outperforming the Canadian fund.

Canada scored well on most aspects. Its income taxes are in line with most of the industrialized nations. However, its maximum individual capital gains tax rate is high at 40.6%. It has some investment restrictions for nonresidents. The investment as a percent of GDP is a low 19%.

Canada is not living up to its potential. It is rich in land and resources, has good political and cultural environment, but is not making the investments necessary to grow. Its wealth and energy are being diverted to social issues. This results in a low GDP growth rate. Admittedly the low GDP growth rate is mitigated by the fact that the GDP per capital is high at over $20,000 U.S.

Canada is a reasonable bet. Its performance is trailing but paralleling the U.S. It should benefit from NAFTA. And it is endowed with natural resources.

How can a country that is a 2650 mile long, 110 mile wide mountain range, with 92% of the population resulting from interracial marriages, and political upheaval, be successful. One reason it survives is that it is rich in natural resources. Among other things, it’s the world’s largest producer of copper.

Chile’s score is a low 4.0. Its one-year relative strength is 81; the five-year relative strength, 65. The Chile Fund (Page D-6) increased in value significantly in the early 1990’s. Since early 1994 it has been in a trading range and the relative strength has been falling. It is currently at the high end of the trading range.

Chile generally scored low to moderate on most aspects. Its GDP per capita is a low $2595 and the GDP growth rate is a moderate 4.5%. The people are taxed heavily. The maximum individual income tax rate is 48% and the standard value added tax rate is 18%. The maximum individual capital gains tax rate is 48%. There are investment restriction for nonresidents and exchange controls. The export growth rate is a healthy 13.8%. It appears that the country is living off its natural resources, without letting the people benefit from this natural wealth.

People are getting rich off of Chile’s resources, but they are unlikely to be part of the general population and they unlikely to be investors in Chile’s domestic companies’ stocks. The Chile Fund is in a three and one-half year trading range. A breakout above 29 would be a technical indication that the fund might go higher.

China is a gigantic country undergoing massive change. It has 1.2 billion people, over one-fifth the world’s population. Since 1949, it has been politically and economically repressed under Communist rule. However in the 1980’s and 1990’s, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, it has gradually become less politically repressive and a "socialist market economy" has been implemented. The economy has gradually become freer.

China has a culture many centuries old. Its written history is 3500 years old. Its culture has been one of enterprise and organization. The people are hard working and have an entrepreneurial spirit. They not had ample outlets for their savings. With the return of Hong Kong to China and the opening of security markets within China, the Chinese are becoming enthusiastic stock and bond market investors. The Shanghai Securities Exchange was incorporated in December 1990; the Shen Zhen securities exchange in April 1991. As of 1991, 90% of the investments were in bonds.

The Chinese equity markets have been very volatile. They are immature markets with inexperienced investors coupled with registration frauds and subject to price manipulation. There are a number of funds that invest in a combination of Hong Kong and China companies. Charts of five funds with significant holdings in China are shown in Pages D-8 through D-11 and Page D-18. It appears that the China market had a peak at the end of 1993 and dropped until 1996. It appears currently to be in an up trend.

China scored midrange, 4.6. Its score was depressed by low political freedom; low GDP per capital, high inflation rate, high value-added taxes, low R&D expenditures. The GDP per capital is only about $451. The inflation rate was 14.7% but has been improving.

On the positive side, China’s GDP growth rate was very high at 7.9%. Other sources estimate it at over 10%. The export growth rate is a very high 19.1%. What is intriguing is that it appears that China has the capability to sustain these very high growth rates over an extended period of time due to the low base from which they are at currently and the improvements in political and economic freedom.

Given the enterprising spirit of the Chinese, the changing political and economic environment, the potential for sustaining high growth rates, and the fact that there is no individual capital gains tax in China; I believe that China is a good bet for the long term. I’ve put some money on China and intend to put more. The high volatility of the Chinese market should be treated as providing opportunities to buy at attractive prices by buying the dips.

In January 1993 two independent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia replaced Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia has historically been one of Europe’s leading industrialized nations. Under Communist rule is one of the most prosperous of the Communist nations. After the collapse of the Communist State in 1989, Czechoslovakia moved quickly to establish economic reforms. Although standards of living fell somewhat during the transition, since 1994 they have started to move up again.

The Czech Republic’s score was 3.3. Its one-year relative strength is 71. The Czech Republic Fund has a short trading history of about two years. It initially fell, then rose through 1996. In 1997 it has been volatile with no clear pattern. The relative strength is declining.

The scores tended to be universally moderate to low. Taxes are high for both corporations and individuals. The standard value added tax is one of the worlds highest at 23%. GDP per capital is low at $1601 and the GDP growth rate in uninspiring at 3.5%. Inflation rate is near 10%. Short-term interest rates approach 20%.

The numbers look discouraging, but this may be an opportunity that arises out of change. I am impressed with the progress that Czechoslovakia and now the Czech Republic have made at confronting their problems head on and resolving many of them. I believe that the citizens will strive to achieve parity with the rest of industrialized Europe. I think that the Czech Republic deserves a bet for the long term. It will probably be a bumpy ride though. One should watch the technical chart patterns for buying opportunities.

Admittedly I am biased against France; a country that builds Citroen automobiles, that popularized sauces in order to cover up tainted meat, that popularized perfume in lieu of personal hygiene, that is passing laws that business with them be done in French regardless of what the rest of the business world is doing. France’s unemployment rate is 11.6% - and they deserve it.

However France’s score is 6.7, tied with the U.S. France’s citizens are well educated. It has a respectable proportion of scientists and engineers; a low inflation rate; a high rate of R&D expenditures; good GDP per capital. Its GDP growth rate is 8.1%, second only to Korea. The export growth rate is a moderate 5.8%.

France taxes its citizens heavily, at least the wealthy ones. The maximum individual income tax and capital gain tax rates are 56.8%. This is on top of a standard value-added tax rate of 19%.

The France Growth Fund (Page D-13) has traded up and down since 1990. It is currently near the apex of an ascending triangle, a bullish formation. The relative strength has been declining since the beginning of 1994.

Is there money to be made in French stocks? I don’t know. I will leave it for others to put down their money here.

Germany has been miraculous in recovery after starting and losing two world wars. The nation of the fabled deutsche mark; producer of Mercedes Benz’s and Porsches; homeland of my ex-wife, long gone with most of my worldly assets.

Germany scored a 6.5, in line with several other European industrialized nations. Relative strength has been good, especially in the last year. The Germany Fund and the New Germany Fund (pages D-14 and D-15) indicate that the German market had a spike at the end of the 1980’s. After falling back, the market went in a six year trading range. It has broken out above the trading range and has risen the width of the trading range.

Germany scored well on expected educational achievement. It has one of Europe’s highest percentages of engineers and scientists. The inflation rate is low. R&D expenditure rate is high. The military expenditure rate is relatively low (thank goodness). The GDP per capital is good at $21,488 with a mediocre growth rate of 2.3%. The export growth rate is a lackluster 4.4%. Individual taxes are high with a maximum income tax rate of 56%.

Germany is a mature country with quality education, producing quality products, but having difficulty competing on the global market place. In the short term, the stock market is showing strength and may go higher. In the long term better opportunities lie elsewhere.

Hong Kong scored an impressive 9.1. Its one-year and five-year relative strengths exceed those of the United States. The performance of the Guinness-Flight China & Hong Kong Fund (page D-17), the Fidelity Hong Kong & China Fund (Page D16), and the WEBS (Page E-7) indicate that Hong Kong’s stock market performance continues to be in an up trend. I hear and read that the mainland Chinese are investing heavily in the Hong Kong market, driving it higher.

As I write this Hong Kong is in the process of being handed over from British rule to Chinese rule. There are both optimistic and pessimistic schools of thought. The optimists believe that China will not tamper with success. They feel that the Chinese government will let Hong Kong continue on as it has in the past. In fact, with Hong Kong becoming part of China, restrictions for doing business in China from Hong Kong will decrease and Hong Kong, being the door into China, will prosper even more. The Hong Kong stock market was setting record highs up to and including the last day of trading before the hand-over. Much of the money was coming from Mainland Chinese investment.

The pessimists feel that the Chinese government has demonstrated itself to be a repressive regime that has been unable to stand by and allow the political freedoms necessary for business to flourish. They feel that the Chinese government will start down the road to political repression. In fact, it may be forced to do so. The dichotomy between the freedom in Hong Kong and the repression in China may be to great to be allowed to endure. Many wealthy people have left Hong Kong for other countries over the last several years.

I would not bet my money long term on Hong Kong. At this point it has had everything going for it. There is a high risk that it will go downhill from here. The downside potential is greater than the upside potential. It is likely that political and economic freedoms will be repressed. It is likely that taxes will be increased. The cost factors are already very high in Hong Kong. It has high labor costs and very high real estate costs, probably the highest in the world. If Hong Kong is part of China, why not move businesses over to Mainland China where the cost factors are lower.

Hong Kong has the potential to repeat Japan’s current situation. Stock prices are being bid up by inexperienced investors and may reach unrealistic and unsustainable valuations. The real estate market is over-valued. When stock prices and real estate prices quit going up, they will come down – hard. The people will feel poor in that they will have lost both real assets and paper profits. The banks will be stuck with a lot of non-performing loans with no collateral behind them.

My bet is that, long-term, China will drag Hong Kong down and Hong Kong will drag China up. Decades from now they will meet in the middle. I feel that Hong Kong will be beneficial for China. I would rather put my money into Mainland China businesses than in Hong Kong.

I often hear of the virtues of investing in India: so many consumers; lots of highly educated people, the next great growth country. Meanwhile the stock goes nowhere.

India’s score is 1.0. The five- year relative strength is 38. The performance of the India Fund (page D-19), the Jardine Fleming India Fund (page D-20), and the Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund (page D-22) indicate that the Indian stock market has been declining for the last three years. It has recently broken above its downtrend line.

The predominant religion is Hindu, which is not especially conducive to success in a capitalist society. Although there are some well-educated people in India, there are not many relative to the size of the population. India had the lowest literacy rate of all the study countries, 36%. The number of scientists & engineers is a very low 151 per million. Inflation rate is high; corporate tax rates are high, individual tax rates are not low; the value added tax is administered locally so the rate varies throughout the country; the rate of R&D expenditures is low. All this results in a GDP per capital of $370. The GDP growth rate is 5%

Come to think of it, usually I hear of India’s virtues from people who left India and are living and working in the United States. I’ll let others take advantage of India’s "great growth opportunity".

In 1965 General Suharto, head of the army’s strategic command, suppressed a coup against President Sukarno lead by army officers. As a result General Suharto ended as the head of government in 1966 and has remained there ever since. General Suharto, his relatives, and his friends have become very wealthy people. Unfortunately it appears that some of that wealth has found its way into the pockets of U.S. rulers.

Anyway, Indonesia scored a 4.1. Five year relative strength has is 53, although one year relative strength has been a more respectable 80. The performance of the Indonesia Fund and the Jakarta Growth Fund (pages D-23 and D-24) indicate the Indonesian market declined by one-half from 1990 through 1991, recovered somewhat through 1992 and 1993, and has fallen since. The relative strength shows this same pattern. It does appear that the stock prices may have recently broken out to the upside from a three and one-half year symmetrical triangle pattern, a bullish indication.

Indonesia’s scores are typically moderately low. It rates low on literacy, 72%. It spends the least portion of its GNP on education, 1.3%, of any of the study countries. Inflation is fairly high, over 8%. Short-term interest rates are over 12%. It spends little on R&D. The GDP per capital is $703 with a 5.7% growth rate. The export growth rate is a healthy 12% (although one can question how much of this is benefiting the country as opposed to benefiting the rulers).

Wake me up when Suharto dies, and I’ll take another look. Until then I will pass on Indonesia.

There are more Irish descendents in the United States than there are in Ireland. England is considering formally apologizing to Ireland for letting the people starve during the potato famine of 1845-1847.

Companies engaged in manufacturing and qualifying service activities are taxed at a reduced rate of 10% until 12/31/2010. International financial services are taxed at 10% until 12/31/2005.

Ireland scored a competitive 6.6. Its one-year and five-year relative strength has been 91 and 94 respectively. The Irish Investment Fund (page D-25) started a steady climb in early 1993. It has climbed from a low of $6.50 to a current value of $16.12. The relative strength has been predominantly sideways through this period with a slight drift downward over the last two years.

Ireland’s scores were generally competitive with the industrialized nations of Europe and the U.S. It is a little light on engineers and scientists, 1871 per million. It has heavy individual and value added taxes. It spends little on the military, which is advantageous. The GDP per capital is $15,807 which is lower than most of the industrialized European nations. The growth rate is 4%. Inflation is low and interest rates are reasonable. Ireland has a high level of exports per capital, $12,207 with a 13% growth rate.

I like Ireland. I believe the reduced tax rate for manufacturing and other services to attract businesses will prove to be an effective technique to bootstrap Ireland up. Although it is anecdotal data, several of the companies that I have worked for or invest in have established plants in Ireland and have been satisfied with the performance of the plants. Given that the population of Ireland is only 3.6 million, it doesn’t take a whole lot of this kind of activity to dramatically change the prospects for a country.

Israel scored a 3.9. Although its stock market has done well in the last year, its five-year relative strength is 48. The First Israel Fund (page D-26) declined through 1994, traded sideways in 1995, and started a climb in early 1996. The relative strength declined from through 1994 and 1995. It has been moving sideways for the last year.

Israel has attracted a large number of highly educated people. Its proportion of scientists and engineers is the world’s second highest at 4826 per million. Only Japan's is higher. There is no corporate capital gains tax and individual capital gains taxes are limited to 10%. Exports per capita are $3519 and are growing at 10.1% per year. Israel rates low on political risk and midrange on financial and economic risk. The currency has a history of declining in value against the U.S. dollar.

Israel suffers from a high inflation rate, approximately 11%. It is making little progress in curbing the inflation. It has high corporate and individual income tax rates plus a 17% standard value added tax. Israel expends an excessive amount on the military - 9% of GNP. The GDP per capital is $11,930 with a 4.1% growth rate. Israel rates low on political risk and midrange on financial and economic risk. The currency has a history of declining in value against the U.S. dollar.

I don’t find any compelling argument for investing in Israel country funds.

Italy scored a 5.0. The Italy Fund’s (page D-27) relative strength has been declining through the 1990’s. The stock has been in a seven year long declining triangle pattern.

Italy has a mature population with no forecasted growth. Its inflation rate is moderate and declining. Corporate and individual income tax rates are high and there is a 19% standard value added tax rate. The unemployment rate is 11.1%.

Italy’s GDP per capita is $21,000 with a lackluster 2.2% growth rate.

Generally Italy scores run somewhat below that of other industrialized European countries.

When I think of Italy, I think of a chaotic disorganized country with shoddy goods and a problem with the Mafia. As I read about Italy I find that the Mafia is a real problem, corruption is a real problem, there is high unemployment, etc. However Michael Porter paints a different picture. He describes an Italy with a robust network of small family owned companies very much in touch with the fashions of the world and able to turn on a dime. It may be that the strength of Italy is in an underground economy, hidden from the published numbers.

Anyway, at least on the surface, there are better bets elsewhere.

Japan’s most beneficial accomplishment may have been losing World War II. The victors prohibited Japan from spending money on military activities. The U.S. in particular went in and helped rebuild Japan and introduced the most modern processes and technology. The Japanese have a very old well-established culture of discipline, order, and cooperation with each other. They learned their lessons well. They gradually and continually improved their products and marketing and took over entire industries such as consumer electronics and carved out very large pieces of other industries such as autos.

Japan scored a 7.3, tied for fourth place behind Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Japan’s stock market performance over the past four years has been poor; the poor performance is due to a correction from extreme over-valuations that resulted from an extreme run-up in the 1980’s. Charts are included for six Japan country funds in Appendix D (pages D-29 through D-34) and for the WEBS (page E-9). The charts show a declining stock market since early 1994 with a recent bounce. The recent strength seems to be in the OTC markets.

Japan has a mature population with a low growth rate. Its religion is predominantly Shinto, which is more a set of principles than a religion. These principles are conducive to business conduct. Japan scores well in education and has 5677 scientists and engineers per million population, the worlds highest (and it has very few lawyers). Japan has essentially no inflation and a short-term interest rate of .5%. Japan spends 3 % of GNP on research and development and wastes very little money on military expenditures. The value-added tax is a low 3%. GDP per capital is $26,707, exceeding the United States. The GDP growth rate is 3.2%, also exceeding the United States.

Japan would have scored higher yet except for very high income tax rates. The maximum individual income tax rate is 50% plus a 20% local rate.

Although the United States politicians are making much ado about imports from Japan, Japan’s export per capita is only $3,538, significantly below many other countries. The export growth rate is 9%, which is not excessive. Its imports per capital are $2683 with a 7.4% growth rate.

Japan is going through some turmoil currently. The stock market has been falling from a very lofty overvaluation. Real estate, also, was overvalued due to speculative excesses. As these values drop people and businesses are seeing paper fortunes vanish and banks are getting stuck with large numbers of non-performing loans with little or no collateral behind them.

Japan will eventually work its way through these problems and will continue to prosper. Japan will again be a good investment at some point in the future.

This study is limited to South Korea, the Republic of Korea.

Korea’s score was respectable, 6.3; however, its relative performance has been lackluster over the last year and last five years. The Korea Fund (page D-35) indicates that the Korean market peaked in 1989, dropped by two-thirds in 1990, recovered somewhat in late 1994 or early 1995, and has since fallen back. The fund prices have the look of a large descending triangle with resistance currently at 22 and support at 12. The fund is currently at 13.87.

The Korean market was a strong performer through the 1980’s until 1988. It had foreign exchange controls so the trade surpluses could not be recycled into international capital markets. As a result Koreans invested in equity and real estate markets. The Korean Ministry of Finance (MOF) limited investment by foreigners to indirect investment vehicles, such as closed-end country funds and convertible Eurobonds.

The market started declining in 1Q89. The Ministry of Finance instituted relaxed foreign investment restrictions in order to prop up the market. Even so, the market has been a lackluster performer since then.

Korea’s score benefited from an 8.8% GDP growth rate and a 29% export growth rate, each the highest of all the countries. It has a moderate rate of inflation, 5.7%. The R&D expenditures are 2.8% of GNP and has a healthy 2636 engineers and scientists per million population. Investment is 36% of GDP.

Factors pulling down Korea’s score included lack of political freedom, low GDP per capital at $7421, high individual income tax and capital gain tax rates, and the existence of investment restrictions and exchange controls.

I feel that Korea merits consideration. It has a very high GDP growth rate and export growth rate. Its GDP per capita is low enough that these growth rates can be sustained for an extended period of time. It maintains a positive trade balance, which reduces currency valuation risk. It has technical capability and is investing in research and development and other infrastructure activities. The issue is valuation. If the Morningstar valuation data is correct, prices are still very high for Korean equities even after a decade of lackluster relative strength performance.

Malaysia scored a 5.9. Its one-year and five-year relative strengths have been lackluster. The Malaysia Fund (page D-37) shows a peak in late 1994. The prices have been in a descending triangle formation since then. The fund prices may have recently broken out of the triangle to the downside.

Malaysia has a fast growing population, 2% per year. Thirty seven percent of the population is under the age of 15. It scored medium in educational emphasis. The literacy rate is 80%. It has very few scientists and engineers. The rate of investment in research and development is low. The GDP per capita is a low $2956. GDP is growing at a respectable 6.5% per year. Taxes are in line with other countries.

Malaysia’s score benefited from having no corporate capital gains tax and a 10% individual capital gain tax rate. The investment rate is high, 36% of GDP.

Malaysia’s economy is heavily dependent on exports. Exports include natural resources and manufactured goods. Malaysia had been gaining ground in manufacturing electronic components as the labor costs in other Asian countries has risen. The level of exports exceeds the nation’s GDP; they amount to $3766 per capita. The level of imports is high also, $3954 per capital. The export and import growth rates both exceed 20% per year.

I feel that Malaysia deserves further consideration. It seems to be politically stable, have an industrious population, natural resources, and a growing manufacturing sector. It is successful at selling its goods on the world market. Its GDP growth rates and export growth rates are both very good. Given the low GDP per capita, these growth rates can probably be sustained for an extended period of time. Caution is in order here. The technical pattern indicates that there may have been a recent downside breakout of a descending triangle pattern, a bearish formation.

Mexico will be the prime beneficiary of NAFTA. Its low labor costs and hard working people will continue to attract U.S. manufacturing operations. Free trade will provide markets for the goods and services of Mexican companies. Free trade also permits Mexican people to benefit from goods and services furnished by more cost efficient companies such as Wal-Mart.

Political parties in opposition to the dominant PRI party are gaining strength and have recently won notable victories. The emergence of a multiparty system will likely accelerate positive changes in Mexico.

Mexico’s score was a dismal 2.2. The Mexican stock market had been doing well until a 1994 devaluation of their peso. The value of country mutual funds typically fell be two-thirds. The values have been gradually recovering since that time. The Mexico Fund (page D-38) price patterns indicate that the Mexican market may have recently broken out to the upside from a symmetrical triangle. This is a bullish development. Similar positive indications are demonstrated by the Mexico Equity and Income Fund (page D-39), and the Mexico WEBS (page E-11).

Mexico’s population is fast growing, 1.3% per year, and young, 35% are under the age of 15. It is politically partly free. The literacy rate is 88% but improving. It has very few scientists and engineers. The GDP per capita is $2,807 with a .9% average annual growth rate. Taxes are in line with most other countries. R&D expenditures are very low. Investment as a percent of GDP is a moderate 23.5%. Exports per capita are a low $511; the export growth rate is a healthy 12.1%. Mexico rates low on economic risk. Average inflation has been over 26%. Its currency has had a history of weakness.

It is hard to find much to cheer about in Mexico’s statistics. The opportunities lie in the benefits of NAFTA, the changing political environment (if it continues), and improved operations in recently privatized companies. I have some money in Mexican country funds and in Mexican companies based on the technical price patterns, but it is a country to treat with caution.

The Netherlands scored 6.6, only one tenth of a point behind the United States and on par with many other industrialized European nations. The stock market performance has been comparable to the U.S over the last five years. The WEBS (page E-12) indicate a strong stock market performance over the last year.

The Netherlands has a 99% literacy rate. The expected years of formal schooling is a very high 15.5 years. The proportion of engineers and scientists is a good 2656 per million population. The GDP per capital is $21,252; the growth rate is slow at 2.2% per year. Inflation is controlled at 2.2 % per year and short-term interest rates are currently 3.1%. Exports are a health $12654 per capital with an 8.2% growth rate. Trade balance is positive.

The Netherlands score was held down by high taxes. The maximum individual income tax rate is 60% and the standard value added tax rate is 18%.

The Netherlands looks like a solid performer with well-educated and industrious people. The GDP growth rate is low so the money will have to be made through individual stock selection. Choice of stocks or of portfolio managers will be critical here.

Much of Pakistan’s energy and attention is consumed by domestic unrest, friction with India, and political turmoil.

Pakistan scored a very low .9. Its stock market performance over the last five years has probably been the worst of the study countries. The performance of the Pakistan Investment Fund (page D-40) shows a declining price and relative strength since mid 1994. There does seem to be a support level at $5.00. The current price at $6.18 indicates a positive breakout of a decreasing triangle formation. Resistance levels are at $7.00 and $7.50.

It is hard to understand why a country with some of the worst conditions of any country has the highest population growth rate, 2.71% per year. Forty two percent of the population is under the age of 15.

Pakistan’s scores are dismal across the board. I can find no glimmer of hope here other than a short-term technical bounce.

Who can remember that there is a single "l" and a double "p" in Philippines?

The Philippines is still trying to find itself after 400 years of Spanish rule followed by U.S. dominance.

The Philippines scored a dismal 1.7. The stock market performance over the last five years has been poor. The First Philippine Fund showed strong gains from 1991 through 1993. The market had a double top in 1993 and 1994 and has fallen since. It appears that the prices have recently broken out of a declining triangle pattern to the downside. The next support level is at $12.00.

There is little in the numbers to hang one’s hat on.

Another country to stay away from.

Portugal is the least developed of the Western European countries. It scored a 5.0. Its stock market has been buoyed up by optimism that inclusion in the European Union would benefit Portugal. The Portugal Fund (page D-42) peaked in late 1994, fell and bottomed in late 1995 or early 1996. It has been on a strong upward trend since then. The relative strength is moving sideways. In spite of this recent strength, the Portugal Fund is at the same level that it was in 1990.

The scores generally lagged other Western European countries across the board. The only high point was low capital gains tax rates, 3.6% corporate and 10% individual.

Portugal is a European Union play. The stock values of Portugal, along with other second tier European countries have benefited from the belief that membership in the EU would pull them up. Will it? By how much? That is a separate study. But one thing I know. There is a whole continent of smart people who are thinking about it every day. They will make the money that is to be made. Unless one is willing to commit to learning the subject, he or she is best to stay away.

Russia is undergoing massive changes – from no political repression to political freedom, from a command economy to a market economy.

Russia has a highly educated population. Its proportion of engineers and scientists exceeds all the European countries and the United States. It has a large land mass, undoubtedly with a lot of natural resources, both discovered and undiscovered.

Russia scored low, 3.1. I believe, however, that this is a case where the scores should be ignored. The changes are massive, but the people are educated and have shown perseverance under extreme hardship in the past. Although the country and its economy are struggling, I feel that the people will be successful. I think that this is a bet that has to be made. The potential upside is so great here. This is a bet where one risks losing 100% of the money invested, but is likely to make 1000%. The Russian stock market seems to agree. Russian mutual funds (pages D-43 and D-44) are up substantially this year. The Templeton Russian fund is up over three-fold in spite of a recent correction.

Singapore, a city-state with 3.4 million people, located at the tip of Malaysia, was the top scoring country.

Singapore was the top scoring country, 10. Singapore scored this high in spite of lack of political freedom, a fairly strong population growth, a mix of religions not especially conducive to business, unimpressive scores for literacy and educational emphasis and a short history as a nation.

The Singapore Fund (page D-45) peaked in 1993 and has been on the decline ever since.

Singapore does a lot of things right. Singapore’s GDP per capita is $18,293 with a growth rate of 7.3%. It is able to maintain this high growth rate with low inflation, 2%. Short-term interest rates are currently 3.6%. Income taxes are moderate. There is no value-added tax. There are no capital gains taxes. Singapore spends a mid-range 3% of GDP on research and development. There are 2512 scientists and engineers per million population. Singapore has not investment restriction by nonresidents and no exchange controls. Exports per capita are $39,565 with a 17.6% annual growth rate.

Singapore got a lot of notoriety a while back for caneing a young man who was caught vandalizing cars by spray painting them. President Clinton made a big deal about it. The young man was ultimately expelled from Singapore and sent to the U.S. under custody of his father. Several months later, the young man was in a U.S. court; this time for beating up his father.

I like Singapore. I’ll wait until the current stock market decline is over to invest though.

South Africa has the richest gold field in the world. It is also a major producer of diamonds and uranium.

South Africa’s score is 2.1. Its stock market has been a mediocre performer over the last five years. The New South Africa fund (page D-46) spiked in early 1990 and declined for the rest of the year. The start of 1997 was the start of a new advance. The relative strength is currently sliding sideways but remains within a 2-½ year down trend.

South Africa has a fast growing population, 2.2% per year. Thirty-seven percent of the population is under age 15. The literacy rate is a low 60% even though the country spends 7.1% of its GNP on education. The number of scientists and engineers is a low 319 per million population. GDP per capital is $2,690 with a GDP growth rate of 1%: less than the population growth rate. Exports are $677 per capital with a 3.5% growth rate in total exports.

South Africa’s scores would have been lower yet if it weren’t for the fact that it has no individual capital gains tax and not investment restriction for nonresidents. It does have exchange controls though.

Several years ago civil rights activists were pressuring mutual funds and pension funds to terminate their investments in South Africa to pressure South Africa to end its policy of apartheid. It looks like the activists were doing the funds a favor.

Spain is the land of Don Quixote, a favorite country of Ernest Hemingway, home of painters El Greco, Diego Velazquez, Francisco Goya, Salvadore Dali, and Pablo Picasso. The ancestry of the people is that of the many nations that conquered Spain over the centuries. It has a rich history of kings, queens, and politics. It was a global power in the sixteenth century. Political turmoil continues to this day.

Spain scored 4.0, the lowest score of the Western European countries. Its stock market has performed well recently, at least partly because of the belief that inclusion in the European Union will benefit Spain. The Spain Fund (page D-48, also see the Growth Fund of Spain, page D-47) spiked in 1989, then declined over the next year by more than two-thirds. After a bounce it declined another 50% and entered into a four year descending triangle pattern with support at $8.00. It broke out to the upside in late 1996 and is currently at $14.00. There is a support level at $13.00 and resistance at $16.00, both weak. The relative strength appears to have broken its downtrend line.

Spain’s scores generally trailed the other Western European nations. It does have high individual taxes. The maximum national individual tax rate was one of the worlds highest at 56%. In addition there are local income taxes. There is a 15% standard value-added tax rate. And the maximum capital gains tax is the same as the income tax rate, a near world high at 56%. Unemployment is the highest of all the study countries, 22.9%.

I would like to visit Spain. It’s not where I want to invest though.

Sweden gained a head start on most of Europe by maintaining neutrality during World War II and through most of the Cold War.

Sweden scored just ahead of the United States, 6.8. The WEBS (Page E-15) has shown strong performance over the last year. The relative strength has been sideways, indicating stock market performance matching the S&P 500.

Sweden has a mature population with just 19% under the age of 15. The growth rate is .25%. Its people are predominantly Lutheran and are highly educated. There are 3714 engineers and scientists per million population, the highest in Western Europe and on par with the U.S. R&D expenditures are 3.5% of GNP, the highest of the study countries. GDP per capita is $26,4223. It has low inflation. Short-term interest rates are currently 4%.

Sweden has been experiencing a recession through much of the 1990’s. Its GDP growth rate is an anemic 1.5%. Although Sweden’s corporate tax rates are moderate, individual tax rates are high and the standard value added tax rate of 25% is the highest of all the study countries.

Sweden is worth considering as an investment. Its economy is probably being held back by high individual tax rates and the high value added tax. Sweden has been reducing individual tax rates in response to the recession.

Like Sweden, Switzerland maintained neutrality during World War II and was able to preserve its industrialized society and its culture, giving it an advantage over its neighbors. It is one of the world’s most highly industrialized societies.

Switzerland scored a 7.3, tying it with Japan for fourth place. Its stock market performance over the last five years has been respectable. The Swiss Helvetica Fund (page D-49) has been in an upward trend since 1990. The fund encountered a resistance level of $24.00 in 1994 and traded in a symmetrical, slightly ascending, triangle pattern until early 1997. It has broken out to the upside and currently trades at $25.43. The relative strength has been declining since late 1993 and is currently up against a downtrend line.

Switzerland has a mature population with just 17% under the age of 15. The growth rate is .67%. The population growth has not kept up with job growth. About one-fifth of the Switzerland employees are foreign. The Swiss people are well educated and well paid. The average GDP per capital is $34,738, the highest of the study countries. The GDP growth rate is an anemic 1.5-% however. Inflation is the lowest of the study countries, 1.35% and short-term interest rates are also very low, 1.6%. Taxes are moderate. Exports per capita are $11,023 with a low 4% growth rate. Political, economic, and financial risk is low. The currency has a history of appreciating against the U.S. dollar.

Switzerland looks like a good bet. In addition, the technical price pattern looks like this is an opportune time to buy.

Taiwan is the seat of government for the Republic of China. Mainland China, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), claims the Republic of China as a province. The PRC has consistently refused to renounce the possibility of using force to gain control of Taiwan. Taiwan has been the seat of the Republic of China since 1949, when Communist armies gained control of the Chinese mainland. The decision by the U.S. government to seek contacts with the People's Republic led to the expulsion of Taiwan from China's seat in the United Nations and the seating of the rival regime in 1971, a morally deplorable decision in the opinion of the author. In the wake of these developments many other nations withdrew their diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

The lack of diplomatic recognition has not seemed to hurt Taiwan’s trade. It has a 24.6 % export growth rate and enjoys a healthy trade balance.

Taiwan shares Mainland China’s ancient and enterprising culture. With greater political and economic freedom, it has prospered much more than Mainland China. Its GDP per capita is ten times greater at $4325. It maintains a high GDP growth rate of 7%.

Taiwan’s score was 8.0, the third highest following Singapore and Hong Kong. However the score was generated based on limited data. United Nations and International Monetary Fund data was not available for Taiwan. Much of the data used conflicted from source to source. Even something as basic as population data varied from 20 million to 25 million from source to source.

The Taiwan country funds (pages D-50, D-51, D-52) indicate than the Taiwanese stock market fell precipitously in 1989, losing approximately 60% of its value. Since then it has been in a volatile weak up trend. In early 1997, it broke of a three-year symmetric triangle pattern to the upside.

Due to the lack of data, I don’t have confidence in the score; but the high score based on the data that exists and the positive technical price pattern indicate that Taiwan deserves consideration and further study.

Thailand scored a mid-range 5.7; its performance has been lackluster over the last one-year and five year periods. The performance of the Thai Capital Fund (page D-53) and the Thai Fund (page D-54) indicate that the market had a double top with the tops occurring in 1990 and 1993. Since 1993 the prices have been in an accelerating downtrend culminating with Thailand’s decision to float its currency on July 2, 1997. The stock prices immediately bounced up but have fallen back since.

Thailand is a country rich in natural resources and historically one of Asia’s most prosperous countries. However much of Thailand’s advantages have been lost due to extensive political turmoil since World War II.

Thailand’s scores benefited from a high GDP growth rate; high investment rate; lack of capital gains taxes and lack of exchange controls.

Thailand’s scores suffered from lack of political freedom, large population under age 15, predominantly Buddhist religion, a low level of scientists and engineers, an accelerating inflation rate, low levels of R&D expenditures, high interest rates, and high political risk.

On July 2, 1997 Thailand was forced to allow its currency to float. The currency was under attack and a 13-year link to a dollar denominated basket of currencies was cut. In a July 11 article, the Financial Times reported that Siam Cement, the largest company in Thailand, would take a loss of $258.5M U.S. on $4B U.S. foreign currency loans. Taking this entire loss this year will pipe out the profit for the year. The Financial Times said that this action on the part of Siam Cement will pressure other companies to take the loss this year rather than spread it out over several years. The article said that there is no long term Baht market – so companies have been forced to borrow abroad. The total Thai based foreign currency losses are expected to be $70 B U.S.

In spite of Thailand’s good score, I think that I would be cautious. The political turmoil, increasing inflation and the low level of product development capability will make it hard for the country to advance in the technologically based global economy. In addition, there may be additional downward pressure on the currency.

Turkey is a turkey. It was the lowest scoring country in the study. Turkey suffers from continuing political upheaval.

The Turkish Investment Fund (page D-55) has been very volatile. In 1990 it traded at $14.00, fell to $5.00 by 1993, jumped up to $14.00 in 1994, and fell back to $5.00 by 1995. Since 1994, it has been in a trading range of $5.00 to $7.50. The Relative strength has been declining since early 1994.

Turkey generally received moderate and low scores throughout. GDP growth rate was a lowish 2.7%. The average inflation rate has been 82% with acceleration in later years. The maximum individual tax rate is 55%. It has a 15% value added tax. The short-term interest rate is 66%. It has investment restrictions and exchange controls. The level of exports is very low and the growth rate is very low. Its trade balance deficit is 3.3% of GNP.

This is a good country to keep your money away from.

England is the land of my ancestors. They were keepers of the Royal Forest, the wood wardens. They moved to the United States during the mid-1800’s. The patriarch was killed in the Civil War. The kids moved on to West Texas, became cattle ranchers, and helped settle the area around Marfa, Texas.

Twenty years ago England’s economy was a mess: high inflation coupled with high unemployment, lots of labor strikes, and a series of price and wage freezes. In the election of April 1979, the Conservatives prevailed and Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. She initiated a program of controlling inflation with budget cuts and high interest rates. Several large government-owned industries were privatized. This resulted in very high unemployment. Argentina came to Margaret Thatcher’s aid. It invaded the Falkland Islands, a British-held group of islands in the South Atlantic. The British people rallied around Mrs. Thatcher’s war to repulse the Argentineans. The Conservatives prevailed in 1983 as a result of the support of the Falklands policies and thus Margaret Thatcher’s policies had time to work. Only this year has the Labor Party regained the majority of parliamentary seats and the prime ministry.

The United Kingdom scored a 6.3, a respectable score. The United Kingdom Fund (page D-56) showed a sharp decline in 1987 in sympathy with the U.S crash. It bounced back quickly and traded in a trading range until 1994. The fund has been in an upward price pattern since then with one peak in late 1994. The rise has not matched that of the U.S. S&P 500 index. The relative strength has been fallen during that time. The WEBS (page E-17) price pattern has indicated a healthy advance in the last 10 months.

The United Kingdom has a mature population with 19% of the population under the age of 15. The forecasted growth rate is less than .1%. The people are well educated with an expectation of 14.9 years of formal schooling. The second highest of the study countries. There are 2417 scientists and engineers per million population. The per capita GDP is $18,779. The GDP growth rate is an anemic 2.4%. Inflation is low. Current short-term interest rates are 6.9%. Income taxes, historically infamous, are now in line with other industrialized countries. The value-added tax remains high at 18%. There is no corporate capital gain tax. The maximum individual capital gain tax is high at 40%. Exports per capital are moderate at $4,141. The export growth rate is 5.5%

England review is mixed. It has made a lot of positive progress. It has a highly educated work force. It has a long history of being one of the world’s most industrialized countries and of being a world financial center. But it has no exceptional investment characteristics. In addition, the electorate seems to be swinging back to the left as evidenced by the recent Labor Party victories.

The United States was a victor in World War II. World War II served to build its industrial base. The U.S. was geographically isolated and did not suffer from invasion or bombing. Its head start kept it in front of the pack for quite a while. But it appears that others in the pack have caught up; some may have gone ahead.

The United States scored a respectable 6.7; trailing Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, and Sweden. Its score was comparable to many of the industrialized Western European countries.

The population is the third largest of the study countries, 272 million. About 22% are under age 15. The forecasted growth rate is about .8%. The people are well educated with an expectation of 16 years of formal schooling, the highest of the study countries. The number of scientists and engineers is 3732 per million population, third highest behind Japan and Russia. The GDP per capital is $23,320 trailing Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan. The GDP growth rate is an anemic 2.6%. Inflation rate is low at 2.82%. Short-term interest rates are currently 5.6%. Income taxes and capital gains taxes are on the high side. There is no value-added tax, however there are state and local sales taxes. Exports per capital are low, $2,223 with a low growth rate of 2.8% in total exports. Imports per capital are $2930. The United States rates well on political, financial, and economic risk.

I invest here because I am here and have not previously been exposed to investments in other countries. Although the U.S. stock market has done very well in the last ten years, this study points out that the U.S. is not the only game around. There are other countries that have strengths where the U.S. has weaknesses, most with higher growth rates.