THE MOST ACCURATE ECONOMIC FORECASTERS IN THE WORLD

Firm: RBS Securities Japan

Score: 49.27

In a late November note, she wrote, 'Given the recent shakeup in Japan, if there is a recession we do not expect it to be long and deep, in contrast to past recessions. Considering that the US and China have shown signs of recovery recently, we believe the Japanese economy would return to positive growth in 2013.'

Source: Bloomberg, NASDAQ

Firm: Australia & New Zealand Banking

Score: 50.09

Hogan believes a strong AUD will keep downward pressure on interest rates, sending already all-time low rates even lower.

Source: Bloomberg, The Daily Telegraph

Firm: Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute

Score: 50.74

Kumano has questioned Japanese candidate for Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's commitment to monetary easing -- and that's before Shinzo walked back his pledge for unlimited monetary easing during a debate.

Source: Bloomberg, The News, Business Insider

Firm: UBS

Score: 51.07

Haslem successfully predicted that the Reserve Bank of Australia would make a rate cut this week to provide a boost to this softening economy.

Source: Bloomberg, Business Insider, Sydney Morning Herald

Firm: Informa Global Markets

Score: 56.13

In April, Blumenthal was ranked the top forecaster for Canada's GDP and third for employment numbers by Bloomberg.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: CIBC

Score: 56.35

Shenfeld has made headlines recently by suggesting that falling home prices in Canada aren't necessarily all bad news, since they might free up other avenues for spending.

Source: Bloomberg, CBC

Firm: Barclays

Score: 56.85

Maki defies conventional wisdom and asserts that the drop in the unemployment rate isn't due to discouraged workers who leave the labour force, but through retiring baby boomers.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Absa Capital

Score: 57.10

This pair of economists recently lowered their 2012 and 2013 GDP forecasts for South Africa to 2.5 per cent and 3.0 per cent, respectively.

Source: Bloomberg, Absa Capital

Firm: Mario Fiorini Ramirez Inc.

Score: 57.8

Shapiro, the #1 ranked U.S. forecaster, views the $1 trillion fiscal deficit in the U.S. as a drag on future economic growth, and forecasts high unemployment throughout 2013.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Barclays

Score: 58.83

Luna has forecasted GDP growth of 3.8 per cent in 2013 followed by a slight decline to 3.5 per cent in 2014.

Source: Bloomberg, Citi via Business Insider

Firm: Nomura International

Score: 58.89

Montalto believes the most recent data shows the South Africa economy is slowing, but does not think the central bank will cut rates unless foreign direct investment falls.

Source: Bloomberg, Reuters

Firm: Credit Agricol

Score: 60.24

In mid-November, Nazarova's team revised their forecast for the euro zone upwards to -0.1 per cent from -0.2 per cent, and predicted the recession would continue into the fourth quarter.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Lloyds Banking Group

Score: 60.56

After 2Q GDP growth in the U.K. was more negative than expected, Page described the economy as being in a 'resilient recession' despite expecting a return to positive growth the next quarter.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: JPMorgan Chase

Score: 60.63

Akira correctly predicted the sharp fall in GDP growth that saw Brazil go from 7.5 per cent growth rate in 2010 to just 2.7 per cent the following year. His estimate for 2011 was 3.8 per cent.

Source: Bloomberg, Reuters

Firm: Grupo Financiero Banorte

Score: 60.67

Casillas (not pictured) was poached from JPMorgan Chase halfway through 2012 to come to GFB. He expects rate increases from Banxico to combat inflation in the near future.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Votarantim Asset Management

Score: 61.52

Fix expects that the Brazilian central bank will raise rates to combat inflation that currently runs above its target. Brazilian economists expect growth will double to a little under 4 per cent in 2013.

Source: Bloomberg, Washington Post

Firm: Citigroup

Score: 61.57

Kalisz has recently called for the depreciation of the zloty in order to spur short-term economic growth in Poland.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Motilal Oswal Securities

Score: 61.94

Mitra has predicted that the rupee appreciates to 52/USD in 2013 and 50/USD the following year -- still a far cry from its high of 44.4/USD in July 2011.

Source: Bloomberg, The Economic Times

Firm: Societe Generale

Score: 62.42

Wei believes the October slowdown in Chinese lending is an indication that the People's Bank of China is targeting $8.5 trillion in loans for 2012.

Source: Bloomberg, MarketWatch

Firm: Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale

Score: 62.79

Kramer dismissed the August spike in inflation as an outlier, blaming rising energy costs and predicting a return to decreased inflation for the weak euro zone economies.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Goldman Sachs

Score: 63.40

In May, Yu cut the Chinese 2012 GDP forecast to 8.1 per cent from 8.6 per cent, much closer to the 7.8 per cent growth rate currently predicted by the IMF. Yu views the lack of socioeconomic reforms as a major impediment to Chinese growth.

Source: Bloomberg, IMF

Firm: Nomura International

Score: 63.75

Varma recently predicted that the Indian government would run a budget deficit of 5.8 per cent of GDP this fiscal year, which exceeds the target of 5.3 per cent.

Source: Bloomberg

Firm: Dekabank Deutsche Girozentrale

Score: 65.93

Scheuerle forecasts stagnant euro zone economies in 2013, with nations focusing on structural reforms -- especially regarding new banking rules.

Source: Bloomberg

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