Mercer, a global consulting leader in human resources, talent, and related fields, doesn't have one single ranking. Instead, they produce several influential and widely-followed global rankings across various sectors. Understanding what Mercer is ranked requires specifying which ranking you're interested in. Let's clarify the most common Mercer rankings and what they entail:
Mercer's Key Global Rankings:
Mercer's most prominent rankings focus on quality of living, but they extend into other important areas for businesses and individuals.
1. Quality of Living Rankings:
This is arguably Mercer's most famous ranking. The Mercer Quality of Living Survey evaluates over 200 cities worldwide, comparing factors influencing quality of life for expatriate employees. These factors include:
- Political and social environment: Stability, crime rates, censorship.
- Economic environment: Currency stability, inflation, access to goods and services.
- Socio-cultural environment: Access to recreation, public services, cultural attractions.
- Medical and health considerations: Availability of quality healthcare, infectious disease prevalence.
- Public services and transportation: Reliability of public transportation, waste disposal services.
- Education and recreation: Quality of educational institutions and recreational facilities.
- Housing: Availability and cost of suitable housing.
The ranking doesn't assign a simple "best" or "worst"; instead, it provides a comparative analysis, allowing companies to assess locations for employee relocations and offering valuable insights into global living standards. Note that the ranking is tailored to the needs and expectations of expatriates, often focusing on aspects important to those adjusting to a new country.
2. Cost of Living Rankings:
Complementing the quality of living survey, Mercer also produces a Cost of Living Survey. This ranking helps organizations and individuals understand the relative cost of goods and services in different cities worldwide, facilitating compensation and budgeting decisions for international assignees. Factors considered include:
- Housing: Rent, mortgage payments, utilities.
- Transportation: Fuel prices, public transport costs.
- Groceries: Cost of everyday food items.
- Clothing: Cost of clothing and footwear.
- Entertainment: Costs associated with leisure activities.
3. Other Mercer Rankings:
While the quality of living and cost of living surveys are prominent, Mercer offers other valuable rankings and indices, including those related to:
- Retirement: Assessing the suitability of different locations for retirement based on various economic and social factors.
- Health and Wellness: Evaluating health systems and access to healthcare.
- Tax Competitiveness: Analyzing tax systems and their implications for businesses and individuals.
How to Find Specific Mercer Rankings:
To find a particular Mercer ranking, visit the official Mercer website. Use precise search terms such as "Mercer Quality of Living Ranking 2023" or "Mercer Cost of Living Survey [City Name]." Remember that these rankings are updated periodically, so specifying the year is crucial.
In conclusion, "Mercer ranked" requires context. Mercer produces several significant global rankings across diverse areas, offering valuable data-driven insights for businesses, governments, and individuals making location decisions or assessing global living standards. Understanding which specific ranking you need is the key to accessing the relevant information.
