Press Release: U.S. News Launches "Best Countries" Multimedia Web Portal, A Comprehensive Global Evaluation of Nations

Washington, D.C. – Dec. 17, 2015 – What makes a country the best? Is it leadership? Military might? Economic strength? A rich and deep vein of culture and history? Or transparency in business and political practices? On Jan. 20, 2016, the answer will be revealed at the World Economic Forum.

U.S. News & World Report, in collaboration with WPP's BAV Consulting and the Wharton School, will unveil Best Countries, a multimedia web portal featuring rankings that capture how countries are perceived, reporting from journalists around the world and analysis from leading experts in government, academia and business.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a global digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About WPP

WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of U.S. $76 billion and revenues of U.S. $19 billion. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising and media investment management; data investment management; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing and specialist communications. The company employs over 190,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 112 countries. For more information, visit www.bavconsulting.com.

About the Wharton School’s SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management

The SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is among the world’s first “think tanks” for management education. The Wharton SEI Center ensures the relevance of management research and teaching to the evolving needs of business and society in the 21st century by joining with global thought leaders in diverse fields to anticipate the needs of management, identify forces of change and understand emerging management paradigms. The SEI Center engages in workshops, conferences, and lectures involving senior executives, academic leaders and students to develop research and educational initiatives to meet the future needs of management.