Investors eye rewards where risks are higher

The finding comes from the 2007 International Property Rights Index published by the Property Rights Alliance. Covering intellectual as well as physical property rights and the legal and political environment, the index is based on opinion surveys within 69 countries.

Norway is the country with the best perceived overall property protection in place, Bangladesh that with the worst.

Norway is also ranked first on physical property rights, with Bangladesh again last. The top five countries for physical property rights are: Norway; Sweden; Netherlands; UK; and Finland. The bottom ranked are: Egypt; Bolivia; Poland; Nicaragua; and Bangladesh.

By region, western Europe gets top ranking for physical property rights, followed by north America, Asia/Oceanis, the Middle East and north Africa, Latin America and the former Soviet Union states, and finally Africa.