Methodology
Active index definitions, component weights, normalization settings, and data-quality rules behind the public MERI model.
Component inputs are normalized to a 0-100 scale, weighted by pillar, and aggregated into the active MERI definition.
A country can display a composite while remaining unranked if confidence or missing-component rules are not met.
Indicator rows retain source, license, citation, raw-object, quality, and imputation metadata when available.
Observed, licensed, and attributed indicator values.
Inputs are transformed onto the active 0-100 score scale.
Components roll into pillars using persisted methodology weights.
Confidence, missing-data, and imputation rules decide rank eligibility.
Scored countries display; eligible countries receive a public rank.
Sector overlay for FMCG, retail, durable-goods and e-commerce entrants. Stage-1 reweights core pillars (P1=0.25, P2=0.45, P3=0.30) emphasising trade openness and logistics. Stage-2 adds CG.C1 market size, CG.C2 e-commerce readiness, CG.C4 consumer protection. Composite: weighted geometric mean.
weighted_geometric_mean
descending_score
Min rank confidence 50
Exclude rank above 40% missing
The public rankings use the newest MERI_READINESS year with non-null composites, currently 2024 in production data.
Some 2025 component rows exist, but broader native source coverage remains below the composite scoring threshold.
Imputed rows are flagged, included in coverage, and credited at lower confidence than observed source values.
Normalized values retain source, license, citation, raw-object, and lineage references when available.
Critical components must be present; imputed critical values reduce confidence but are not treated as fully missing.
Countries with too many missing required components remain display-only until source coverage improves.
Native same-year source rows override bounded carry-forward or adjacent-release imputation when available.
37 components · total weight 38.7
7 components · total weight 7
37 components · total weight 39.1
4 components · total weight 4
11 components · total weight 3
32 components · total weight 32.2
Market Infrastructure · weight 1 · higher is better
Market Infrastructure · weight 1 · higher is better
Market Infrastructure · weight 1 · higher is better
Market Infrastructure · weight 1 · lower is better
Regulatory Institutional · weight 1 · higher is better
Regulatory Institutional · weight 1 · higher is better
Regulatory Institutional · weight 1 · lower is better
Regulatory Institutional · weight 0.5 · higher is better
Talent Operating · weight 1 · higher is better
Talent Operating · weight 1 · higher is better
Talent Operating · weight 1 · higher is better
Talent Operating · weight 1 · higher is better
| Pillar | Component | Weight | Direction | Normalization | Imputation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| market infrastructure | E-commerce & Retail Readiness | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Consumer Protection & Product Standards | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | Consumer market size & purchasing power (re-homes CG.C1) | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | E-commerce & Retail Readiness | 0.5 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Consumer Protection & Product Standards | 0.5 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Broadband Quality and Affordability | 1.3 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Cloud and Hosting Infrastructure | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 0.2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Data Protection and Privacy Framework | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Cross-Border Data Flow Regime | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Digital Talent Density | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Digital Payments Adoption | 1.3 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Credit Information Infrastructure | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 0.3 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Regulatory Sandbox & Licensing Quality | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Digital Talent Density | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | Fintech addressable market (un/under-banked + TAM) | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Regulatory Sandbox & Licensing Quality | 0.3 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Digital Payments Adoption | 0.3 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Credit Information Infrastructure | 0.3 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Fiscal Capacity & Payment Reliability | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Procurement Transparency & e-Procurement | 1.8 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Public Financial Management (PEFA) | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Government Integrity / Open Government | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 0.6 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Market Access / Pricing & Reimbursement | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Pharma IP & Data Exclusivity | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Regulatory Approval Quality (NRA/SRA) | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Health System Capacity | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Energy Reliability and Cost | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Input Tariff Burden (HS 72-85) | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1.5 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 0.3 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Industrial Zone / SEZ Framework Quality | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 1.2 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 0.8 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | Manufacturing opportunity / demand | 1 | higher is better | percentile | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Industrial Zone / SEZ Framework Quality | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Energy Reliability and Cost | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Input Tariff Burden (HS 72-85) | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Unit Labor Cost (manufacturing wage / productivity), lower_better | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Industrial Electricity Price (USD/kWh), lower_better | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| sector tilt | Manufacturing FDI Openness (1 - FDIRRI mfg sub-score) | 0.2 | higher is better | z score | sector specific no impute |
| opportunity | Demographic and Urbanization Momentum | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | GDP Growth Trajectory | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | Import Demand | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| opportunity | Purchasing Power Growth | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| market infrastructure | Basic Digital Infrastructure | 1 | higher is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| market infrastructure | Financial System Accessibility | 1 | higher is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| market infrastructure | Logistics Performance | 1 | higher is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| market infrastructure | Trade Openness | 1 | lower is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| regulatory institutional | General Business Entry Friction | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Contract Enforcement Reliability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| regulatory institutional | Foreign Ownership Restrictions | 1 | lower is better | min max | no peer imputation |
| regulatory institutional | Intellectual Property Protection | 0.5 | higher is better | percentile | peer mean allowed |
| talent operating | Corruption Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | peer mean allowed |
| talent operating | Human Capital Quality | 1 | higher is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| talent operating | Hiring and Workforce Availability | 1 | higher is better | min max | peer mean allowed |
| talent operating | Personal Security and Rule of Law | 1 | higher is better | min max | source fallback then peer mean |
| risk | Exchange Rate Volatility | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| risk | Inflation Stability | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| risk | Political and Security Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
| risk | Sovereign Credit Risk | 1 | higher is better | percentile | source fallback then peer mean |
{
"model": "MERI-Sector-Overlay",
"stage": "stage_2_full",
"tiers": [
{
"name": "Tier 1: Strong fit",
"minimum_score": 70
},
{
"name": "Tier 2: Workable",
"minimum_score": 55
},
{
"name": "Tier 3: Watch list",
"minimum_score": 40
},
{
"name": "Tier 4: Challenging",
"minimum_score": 25
},
{
"name": "Tier 5: Not recommended",
"minimum_score": 0
}
],
"pillars": [
{
"name": "regulatory_institutional",
"weight": 0.25,
"aggregation": "weighted_average",
"display_name": "Regulatory & Institutional"
},
{
"name": "market_infrastructure",
"weight": 0.45,
"aggregation": "weighted_average",
"display_name": "Market Access & Infrastructure"
},
{
"name": "talent_operating",
"weight": 0.3,
"aggregation": "weighted_average",
"display_name": "Talent & Operating Environment"
}
],
"ranking": {
"mode": "descending_score",
"rank_type": "competition",
"peer_ranks": [
"global",
"income_group",
"region"
],
"exclude_when_data_confidence_below": 50
},
"version": "1.0.0",
"maturity": "preview",
"composite": {
"formula": "(P1^0.25 * P2^0.45 * P3^0.30)^(1/1.0)",
"aggregation": "weighted_geometric_mean",
"pillar_weights": {
"talent_operating": 0.3,
"market_infrastructure": 0.45,
"regulatory_institutional": 0.25
},
"required_pillars": "all"
},
"base_index": "MERI_READINESS",
"components": [
"BIZ_ENTRY",
"FDIRRI",
"CONTRACT_ENF",
"IP_PROTECT",
"CG.C4_CONSUMER_PROTECTION",
"LPI",
"DIGITAL_INFRA",
"TRADE_OPEN",
"FIN_ACCESS",
"CG.C2_ECOMMERCE_RETAIL",
"HUMAN_CAP",
"LABOR",
"CORRUPTION",
"SECURITY_ROL"
],
"confidence": {
"default_weight": 1,
"critical_weight": 2,
"critical_components": [
"FDIRRI",
"CONTRACT_ENF",
"IP_PROTECT"
],
"min_rank_confidence": 50,
"critical_missing_cap": {
"missing_count": 2,
"max_confidence": 49
}
},
"stage_note": "Stage-1 core-only critical gate restored by 202606171545_data_meri_sector_quickfix.sql. CG.C1_MARKET_SIZE removed from this readiness overlay: it correlates r=0.93 with GDP/cap PPP and measures sector DEMAND/opportunity, not readiness (review §5 Fix 3/4). It should be re-homed to a sector Opportunity overlay in v2. Supplementary indicators (CG.C4) remain optional/coverage-aware.",
"validation": {
"outcome_target": "consumer_goods_fdi_lagged",
"divergence_threshold_spearman_rho": 0.92
},
"score_scale": {
"maximum": 100,
"minimum": 0,
"higher_is_better": true
},
"missing_data": {
"peer_groups": [
"region",
"income_group"
],
"peer_impute_when_missing_ratio_gt": 0.1,
"exclude_rank_when_missing_ratio_gt": 0.4,
"peer_impute_when_missing_ratio_lte": 0.4
},
"overlay_type": "consumer_goods",
"maturity_note": "Spearman rho >= 0.92 vs MERI_READINESS at Stage-1; moves to production when sector-specific indicators reach 60+ country coverage.",
"source_document": "MERI-Remaining-Sector-Overlays-Build-Spec.md",
"required_components": [
"BIZ_ENTRY",
"FDIRRI",
"CONTRACT_ENF",
"IP_PROTECT",
"LPI",
"TRADE_OPEN",
"FIN_ACCESS",
"HUMAN_CAP",
"LABOR",
"CORRUPTION",
"SECURITY_ROL"
]
}