Finland is the world's most prosperous nation, not only in monetary matters but in the quality of its democracy and governance, according to the latest Prosperity Index, to be launched by Legatum, the London-based think-tank, this week.

据列格坦(Legatum)本周将公布的最新繁荣指数(Prosperity Index)显示，芬兰是全球最繁荣的国家，这不仅是就物质财富而言，而且是就民主和治理的质量而言。列格坦是一家总部位于伦敦的智库机构。

Finland took first prize – up from third last year – and is followed by Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Zimbabwe ranks last, just ahead of Sudan and Yemen.

在全球最繁荣国家排行榜上，芬兰去年名列第三，今年跃居榜首。紧随其后的是瑞士以及斯堪的纳维亚国家瑞典、丹麦和挪威。津巴布韦位居末位，其次是苏丹和也门。

The United States comes in ninth, beating Britain, Germany and France, which all ranked in the top 20. Four-fifths of the top 20-ranked countries are in North America and Europe.

美国名列第九，排在英国、德国和法国之前，后三者均在前20位之列。在排名前20位的国家中，五分之四位于北美和欧洲。

Legatum says it is trying to encourage the consideration of factors such as health, freedom, security and political governance as keys to prosperity, rather than material wealth alone.

列格坦表示，它试图鼓励一种做法，即考虑健康、自由、安全和政治治理等因素，视其为实现繁荣的关键，而不是只关注物质财富。

Its report follows a proclamation in September by a commission created by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, which said a country's gross domestic product is an insufficient measure of wellbeing.

在列格坦这份报告公布之前，由法国总统尼古拉•萨科齐(Nicolas Sarkozy)建立的一个委员会发布公告称，国内生产总值(GDP)这一指标并不足以衡量一国的福祉。

“The Sarkozy commission has helped advance the debate,” said Dr William Inboden, senior vice-president at Legatum. “We need broader measurements of what is working and what isn't.”

列格坦高级副总裁威廉•因博登博士(William Inboden)表示：“萨科齐的委员会帮助推动了这场辩论。对于何种因素正在促进繁荣、何种因素没有促进繁荣，我们需要采用更广泛的衡量标准。”

The Prosperity Index found a separation between growing prosperity in India and Brazil compared with the progress measured in fellow “Brics” China and Russia, both of which lag behind on issues of governance and political freedom.

繁荣指数显示，印度和巴西的繁荣程度正不断提升；而同为“金砖四国”的中国和俄罗斯所取得的进展则与前两者存在差距。中俄两国在治理和政治自由这些项目上滞后。

“We think there may be some warning signs for Russia and China versus some more positive indicators for Brazil and India,” said Dr Inboden.

因博登博士表示：“我们认为，俄罗斯和中国的某些指标或许应引起警惕，而巴西和印度的某些指标则更为积极。”

“We see a real divide. The rule of law, transparency and accountability are important for sustainable growth.”

“我们看到切实的差别。法治、透明度和问责制，这些对于可持续增长是十分重要的。”

The results lend legitimacy to the adage that “money can't buy happiness”. In the world's poorest countries, money has a far greater effect on satisfaction than in the wealthier countries.

这份报告的结果验证了那句格言：“金钱买不到幸福”。在全球最贫穷的国家中，金钱更能令人获得满足感，其效果要比在较富裕国家大得多。