Here’s a list we hope to top in 2017: The Economist’s pick for its 2016 country of year is Colombia, for the “colossal achievement” of making peace during the year. “At one point the country was on the brink of becoming a failed state—something that is now inconceivable… The nightmare ended in 2016—touch wood.” The country reached a peace agreement with FARC rebels and although it was rejected by voters, the two sides sat down again and answered some of the objections. “Like most negotiated peace deals, Colombia’s is incomplete and involves ugly compromises. But the alternative is worse,” The Economist says, “Colombia is a worthy winner.”

To win the award, the newspaper says, “it is not enough to be peaceful and rich. We aim to reward improvement. Previous winners include Myanmar and Tunisia, for escaping tyranny and building something resembling democracy. Switzerland, Japan and New Zealand, which were just as lovely a decade ago, need not apply.” Contenders for the award this year included: Estonia for its educational attainment, Iceland for being the fastest growing rich country in 2016, Canada for staying “sober and liberal even as other rich countries have been intoxicated by illiberal populism,” and, more controversially, China for competently reducing poverty and Taiwan, for dealing with “China’s bullying.”