There weren't many developed countries that managed to dodge the worst of the financial crisis, but Australia was one of them.
With strong ties to over six billion emerging market customers yearning to adopt a more Western lifestyle, "The Land Down Under" has been left relatively unscathed.
And with interest rates that are above inflation and a veritable treasure trove of much-needed natural resources to rely on, Australia will enjoy prosperity for decades to come.
Unlike the rest of the West, what's going on there is a bona fide growth story.
In fact, according to the Economist's team of forecasters, Australia's GDP is expected to grow 2.7% in 2013. Among the world's "rich countries" that's only behind the East Asian trio of Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan — all of which are expected grow at 2.9%-3% this year.
Australia is also doing significantly better than the other Western mineral-rich economy, Canada, which is expected to grow by 1.9% in 2013.